History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.311.1

v4.c62.311.1

According to Paurāṇic geography there are seven *dvīpas*, viz. Jambu, Plakṣa, Śālmala, Kuśa, Krauñca, Śaka and Puṣkara (Viṣṇupurāṇa II. 1. 11 ff) and each dvīpa is divided into *varṣas*. Jambudvīpa has 9 varṣas of which Bharatavarṣa is the first (Viṣṇupurāṇa II. 2. 12 ff). The Mahābhārata speaks of 13 dvīpas (Ādi. 75. 19, Vanaparva 3. 52 and 134. 20) and 18 dvīpas also (Droṇa 70. 15). For Bharatavarṣa vide H. Dh. vol. II. pp. 17-18. Manu II. 20 looks upon the holy land of Kurukṣetra, of the Matsyas, Pañcālas and Śūrasenas as 'the chosen country' the learned brāhmaṇas in which were to be the leaders and guides of the whole world in appropriate thoughts and actions. The Viṣṇu (II. 3. 2), Brāhma, Mārkaṇḍeya 55. 21-22 and other purāṇas proudly assert that Bharatavarṣa is the land of action (karmabhūmi). This is patriotism of a sort but not of the kind we see in western countries. Bharatavarṣa itself has comprised numerous countries from the most ancient times. The names of countries and the tribes or people inhabiting them were the same (vide Pāṇini IV. 1. 168, IV. 2. 81 ). In the Ṛgveda we come across the tribes of Yadus, Turvaśas, Druhyus, Anus and Pūrus ( Ṛg. I. 108. 8, VIII. 10. 5 &c. ) and the countries of Cedi ( VIII. 5. 39 ), Kīkaṭa ( III. 53. 4 ), Ṛjīka ( VIII. 7. 29 ), Ruśama ( V. 30. 12 ), Vetasu ( X. 49. 4 ). In the Atharvaveda V. 22 several peoples or countries are mentioned of which Bahlīkas ( in vv 5 and 9 ), Mūjavat ( vv 5 and 8 ), Gandhāri, Aṅga, Magadha ( in v.