Tribes in Ancient India c77.152

c77.152

**Puṣkalas** The Puṣkalas probably were the people from whom the name Puṣkalāvatī or Puṣkarāvatī,⁷ the old capital of Gandhāra, derived its name. The *Vāyu* and *Matsya Purāṇas* read Prasthalas. The Prasthalas were evidently people of Prasthala,⁸ closely connected with Trigarta and therefore located probably in the Punjab. Puṣkarāvatī or Puṣkalāvatī (Prākrit Pukkalaoti, whence the Peukelaotis of Arrian) is represented by the modern Prang and Chārsadda, 17 miles north-east of Peshawar on the Swat river.¹