Geographical and Economic Studies in the Mahabharata: Upayana Parva c6.93

c6.93

Kukuras were a very ancient tribe forming a component of the great Vṛṣṇi confederation. In Megasthenes¹¹⁹ a very uncommon description of the tribe is given. They are described as a tribe living in the mountains and having heads like dogs, they were clothed in the skins of wild beasts, whose speech was barking; and who being armed with claws, lived by hunting and fowling. Apparently the story has been fabricated from the word Kukura meaning "dog". Pliny (VII, ii, 14-22) also repeats the same story. They are also mentioned in the inscription of Vāsiṣṭhīputra Puḷumāyi issued in his 19th regnal year¹²⁰ where they are placed with Aparānta.