Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c25.17

c25.17

§ 131. What is meant here by *aparāntas* and *rāja-vishayas*? *Antas* in Aśoka's proclamations mean 'neighbours' (neighbouring states); following that *aparāntas* can mean literally two things: (1) 'the neighbours of the west,' or (2) 'the hinder neighbours,'—the states on the frontiers of Western India, or, states inside. If we take *Aparāntas* in its later sense, it may simply mean Western End or Frontier of the Country *i.e.* Western India. The Bhojas and Rāshtrikas and presumably the Pitinikas, did belong to the country called Aparānta, or Western India. But by no license the Yonas and the Kambojas who were in Afghanistan, can be called *aparāntas* in the sense of Westerners. That region is always called 'the North' in ancient Indian literature. Nor could the Gāndhāras be called 'Westerners.' They were always counted in the North (*Udīchī*, *Uttarāpatha*). We have therefore to give up the 'western' meaning.