Historical Geography of Ancient India c10.240

c10.240

According to the *Manu-saṃhitā* (II, 19-20; *ibid.*, VII, 193) the Matsya country formed a part of the Brahmarṣideśa (the country of the holy sages), which included the eastern half of the State of Patiala and of the Delhi division of the Punjab, the Alwar State and the adjacent territory in Rajputana, the region which lies between the Ganges and the Jumna and the Muttra district in the United Provinces (cf. Rapson, *Ancient India*, pp. 50-51). In ancient times the whole of the country, lying between the Aravalli hills of Alwar and the river Jumna, was divided between Matsya on the west and Śūrasena on the east with Daśārṇa on the south and south-east border. The Matsyadeśa included the whole of the present Alwar territory with portions of Jaipur and Bharatpur. Vairāṭa was also in the Matsyadeśa (Cunningham’s Report, *A.S.I.*, Vol. XX, p. 2). The Matsya country seems to have been known as Virāṭa or Vairāṭa in later times. According to Hiuen Tsang who visited Vairāṭa in the 7th century A.D., the kingdom of Vairāṭa was 3,000 li or 500 miles in circuit. It was famous for its sheep and oxen, but produced few fruits or flowers. According to him Vairāṭ was 14 or 15 li in circuit, and its people were brave and bold, and their king was famous for his courage and skill in war (Cunningham, *Ancient Geography*, pp. 393 and 395).