Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c10.s3.55

c10.s3.55

The older Videha covered almost the same region as did later Tirabhukti or modern Tirhut,⁵ and Mithilā has been identified with Janakpur, a small town within the Nepal border, north of which the Muzaffarpur and Darbhangā districts meet.⁶ The Videhan territory comprised the areas today indicated by north Bihar, the Terāi and the south-eastern portion of the kingdom of Nepal inclusive of the lower ranges of hills.⁷ According to M.S. Pandey, the joint territory of the Videhas and the Licchavis did not extend over 1,500 to 1,800 miles in circuit.⁸ We accept this location of the Videhan territory during its republican career, as proposed by scholars, with the qualification that it must be regarded only as a probable approximation not disproved by conflicting evidence.