Geographical and Economic Studies in the Mahabharata: Upayana Parva c5.26

c5.26

What ultimately turned them southward is unknown. It seems that the intervening years between 160—128 B.C. were spent in fighting to settle down somewhere. Between 141—128 B.C. they crossed Jaxartes westward of Ferghana went southward and finished off the Greek Kingdom of Bactria. They were living north of the Oxus²³ when Chang K'ien visited them not having yet moved across the Oxus into Bactria though they had conquered it. The chronological sequence in the great movement of Yüe-Chï has been arranged by Hirth.²⁴ In the following sequence : In 176 the Yüe-Chï were defeated by the Hiung-nu for the second time; in 165 B.C. Lau Shang, Mau-tun's successor annihilated the Yüe-Chï and the Yüe-Chï fled westward; in 164 B.C. they settled down near Issyk-kul driving away Sai-Wang who migrated southward and became the rulers of Kipin; in 160 B.C. the Wusun drove away the Yüe-Chï and occupied their territory near Issyk-kul. It is necessary to remember these dates and the Yüe-Chï settlement near Issyk-kul to which we will have to return presently.