Public Administration in Ancient India c9.32

c9.32

The Mahābhārata gives a long list of over two hundred names of nations and tribes who dwelt in India or in countries bordering on it.³ In the Viṣṇupurāṇa we find the following list of the important nations inhabiting Bhārata-varṣa : “The Kurus and the Pāñchālas in the middle district ; the people of Kāmarūpa in the east ; the Pundras, the Kalingas, the Magadhas, and the southern nations in the south ; in the extreme west the Saurāṣṭras, the Sūras, the Bhīras and the Arbudas; the Karūshas and the Mālavas dwelling in the Pāripātra mountains; the Sau-vīras, the Saindhavas, the Hūnas, the Sālvas, the Sākalas, the Madras, the Rāmas, the Ambasthas, and the Pārasīkas in the Punjab, and in the territory comprising north-western India and modern Afghani-stan.¹ This list, however, fails to render us much assistance, as we do not know what period of history it refers to. Perhaps a portion of the list refers to an early period, while some names are later additions.