Tribes in Ancient India c72.2

c72.2

The Pāradas, like the Barbaras and Daradas, seem to have been a barbarous hill tribe and are associated in the Puranic and Epic tradition with similar rude tribes of the North (e.g. *Mbh.*, *Sabhāparvan*, L, 1832; LI, 1869; *Droṇaparvan*, CXXI, 4819). In the *Sabhāparvan* of the *Mahābhārata*, they are associated with the Kulindas and Taṅganas (LI, 1858-9). They are mentioned in the *Vāyupurāṇa* (Chap. 88) as well as in the *Harivaṃśa* (I, 14). The *Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa* at one place (LVII, 37) locates them along with the Kaliṅgas, the Hārabhūṣikas, Mātharas (Ramaṭhas), etc., while at another place (LVIII, 31), with the Śūdras, the Barbaras, the Kirātas the Pāṇḍyas, the Pāraśavas, etc. In the *Sabhāparvan* of the *Mahābhārata* (LI, 1858-9), the Pāradas are said to have dwelt on the river Śaliodā along with the Khasas and the Taṅganas. A collation of Epic and Puranic tradition referred to above shows that the tribe is found mentioned in a list of barbarous and rude tribes with the Śakas, Yavanas, Kāmbojas, Pahlavas, Khasas, Māhīṣikas, Coḷas, Keralas, etc. The *Harivaṃśa* states (XIII, 763-4; XIV, 775-83) that King Sagara degraded them and ordered them to have their hair-locks long and dishevelled; according to the same authority they were *mlecchas* and *dasyus*. They also find mention in *Manusmṛti* where it is said that they were originally Kṣatriyas, but were degraded owing to extinction of sacred rites, etc. (X, 43-4). At least one reference in the Great Epic connects the people with the Ābhiras (*Sabhāparvan*, L, 1832).