Cosmography and Geography in Early Indian Literature c8.s1.2

c8.s1.2

38. Beyond this region, the continent making a wide curve from the east across the depths of the bays, there follows the coast district of Scythia (Śakasthāna) which lies above toward the north ; the whole marshy : from which flows down the river Sinthus (Sindhu), the greatest of all the rivers that flow into the Erythraean Sea (the Indian Ocean including its adjuncts), bringing down an enormous volume of water ; so that a long way out at sea, before reaching this country, the water of the ocean is fresh from it. Now as a sign of approach to this country to those coming from the sea, there are serpents coming forth from the depths to meet you ; and a sign of the places just mentioned and in Persia, are those called graoe (Sanskrit grāha). This river has seven mouths, very shallow and marshy, so that they are not navigable, except the one in the middle ; at which by the shore, is the market-town, Barbaricum (Barbaraka, Barbara). Before it there lies a small island, and inland behind it is the metropolis of Scythia, Minnagara ; it is subject to Parthian princes who are constantly driving each other out.