Studies in the Geography of Ancient and Medieval India c8.s3.145

c8.s3.145

The Śaurasena country seems to be described as extending from Magadha in the south-east upto the territory to the west of the Vindhya. The ancient Śūrasena people lived in the Mathurā region. Greek writers refer to the Sourasenoi and to their cities Methora (Mathurā) and Kleisobora (possibly Kṛṣṇapura = Gokula). This old Śūrasena or Śaurasena country therefore had nothing to do with Magadha, the ancient name of South Bihār. It must, however, be remembered that our author extends Magadha as far as the Banāras district in the west. He possibly believed that the Śaurasena country extended from the Banāras region up to the Mathurā district which is to the west (actually to the north-west) of the Vindhyan range. It may also be suggested that the text requires emendation and that the intention was to say ‘to the north of the Vindhya.’ It is interesting to note in this connection that the *Kāmasūtra* (VI, 9, 28) commentary locates Śaurasena *Kauśāmbyāḥ dakṣiṇataḥ* (sic. *paścimataḥ*) *kūle* [*Yamunāyāḥ*].