Geographical and Economic Studies in the Mahabharata: Upayana Parva c3.17

c3.17

A number of brilliant geographical identifications are suggested or established for the first time in these pages. Perhaps the most important of all is the location of Kamboja in the region of the Upper Oxus, i.e., the land of the great Pamirs directly north of the Darad country and north-east of ancient Kapiśa. Pt. Jaya Chandra Vidyālaṅkāra had first of all made this suggestion, but convincing proof was still lacking. Dr. Rhys Davids had long ago pointed out on the basis of a reference in Buddhist literature the intimate connection between Kamboja and Dvārakā (Buddhist India, p. 184). Following this clue Dr. Moti Chandra looked for Dvarkā in the Ghalcha-speaking regions of the Upper Oxus and finally hit upon the identification of Dvārkā with modern Darwāz which establishes the identity of Kamboja on a solid basis and beyond the possibility of any doubt. Further attention may be invited to the identification of Dvyakṣa with Badakshan and of Lalāṭākṣa with Ladākh. Pāṇini also juxtaposes Dvyākṣāyaṇa and Tryākṣāyaṇa in the Gaṇapatha of sutra IV, 2.54, and these appear but other forms of Dvyaksha and Tryaksha mentioned together in the Epic. Pāṇini's Dvyākṣāyaṇa is from the phonetical point of view much closer to Badakshan.