Geographical and Economic Studies in the Mahabharata: Upayana Parva c5.67

c5.67

The relative position of the Śakas, if we take them to be settled in Ta-yuan, and the Kankas is settled as their country was conterminus.⁴⁶ The Tokharas who were probably a component tribe of the Great Yüe-Chï were perhaps encamped further to the south. It is therefore clear that the arrangement followed in the *Sabhāparva* in placing the Śakas, Tukhāras and Kaṅkas gives their relative position in the second century B.C. It is significant that the Ṛṣikas are missing in the list. The only conclusion which could be drawn from this is that after their defeat in 160 B.C. when they had moved towards the west, the Tukhāras were sent as vanguards and the information contained in this particular passage could be dated between 160 B.C. and 128 B.C. the year in which Yüe-Chi defeated the Greek power of Bactria. A provisional date of 150 B.C. may be assigned to this state of affairs.