Historical Geography of Ancient India c10.467

c10.467

Vetravatī (Pali Vettavatī).—This river is mentioned in the *Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa* (pp. 20, 57) and also in the *Milinda-Pañha* (p. 114). It is doubtless identical with Vetravatī mentioned in Kālidāsa's *Meghadūtam* (Pūrvamegha, śl. 25). It is modern Betwa which rises near Bhupal and flows into the Jumna. According to the *Purāṇas* it issues forth from the Pāripātra mountain. Bāṇa points out in his *Kādambarī* that this river flows through Vidiśā (Ed. M. R. Kale, Bombay, p. 14). The temple of Bhailasvāmī was situated on the banks of it at Bhilsā in the Gwalior State, 34 miles from Bhopal and eight miles from Sāñcī. It must have given rise to the name of Bhilsa town.¹² The city of Vetravatī was on the bank of the river of that name.¹³ Close to the city of Vetravatī on the bank of the river named Avikṣita carried her off. The same Purāṇa further relates that Avikṣita was captured. All the kings in company with king Viśāla entered the Vaidiśa city cheerfully, taking him bound.