Tribes in Ancient India c74.7

c74.7

According to the Epic tradition as contained in the Droṇaparvan (IV, 8) of the Mahābhārata, Karṇa is said to have conquered the Mekalas along with the Utkalas, Pauṇḍras, Kaliṅgas, Andhras, Niṣadas, Trigarttas and Vāhlīkas. In the Rāmāyaṇa also, the Mekala country is associated with the Utkala and Daśārṇa countries. The army of monkeys which was despatched in search of Sītā was asked to visit Mekala, Utkala, and Daśārṇa, among other countries of the south (Canto XLII).