Geographical and Economic Studies in the Mahabharata: Upayana Parva c5.43

c5.43

Now reverting to the campaign of Arjuna we find that the first part of his campaign was devoted to the reduction of the Kāmbojas of Badakshān. Then he proceeded in the north-easterly direction and reduced the robber tribes (M. B. II, 24, 23) and the Lohas, Paramakāmbojas and finally the Ṛṣikas (II. 24, 24). A glance at the map of eastern Afghānistān and adjacent countries should convince us that the Lohas and Kambojas and the robber tribes must have been settled in the country which is represented now by the Tadzhik Soviet Social Republic which till recently was divided in the Russian Wakhan, Shighnān, Roshan and Darwānz etc. It is known that the Yüe-Chï were in 160 B.C. or thereabout in the region of the Lake Issyk-Kul from where they were driven out by the Hiung-nu and Wu-sung. It seems probable that the author or authors of the Sabhāparva have very cleverly transposed the doing of the Hiung-nu to Arjuna. The union of the Yüe-chï and the Eastern Iranian speaking republics on the Oxus was natural in the face of common danger; moreover there were close ethnic relation between Tajiks and the Yüe-chï both of whom came from the common Iranian stock; this must have further cemented the bond of friendship.