Indian Antiquary Vol 62

SR No.: 032554
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1986
Total Pages: 450
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 18 MB

Page 140

128
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ JULY, 1933
as defective, in omitting by mistake the mention of Rastrika-Pitinikánam. Similarly the Shahbazgarhî text is to be considered defective as omitting by mistake añe (other) before Aparamta. The mistake at Shâhbâzgarhî shows that in Gandhara [Province] the engraver or writer on the rock did not know that Rathikas and Pitinikas were Aparamtâs or that they were neighbours, for he makes them separate and does not group them. The mistake also shows that Yona-Kamboja-Gandhâra, which the writer knew well, were not Aparamtâs. The writer at Kâlsî, who does not use the form Apalaṁtá but has Apalamta, missed or omitted the real Aparântas and employed the non-technical apalamta, and writing as he was in the upper Siwâliks, he might correctly call the Peshawarîs and Kâbulis 'the Westerners.' The true text is at Girnår, Mansehra and Dhauli, according to which, read in the light of Shahbazgaṛhî, the peoples to whom Aparâmtâ applied were the Rathika (Rastrika)-Pitinikas(Petenikas).
Having Pitinikas as one of the parânta administrative units, we can safely infer that the next neighbours, the Bhojas (Bhoja-Pitinika, Rock XIII), were included in the other Apar. ântas.' We have thus three communities who were Aparântas:
Bhojas
Râstrikas
Pitinikas
The Râstrikas were the connecting link between the two, and must have been in a position from which they could link the Pitinikas and the Bhojas with themselves. Thus, if we can fix the localities of the other two, we can guess the position of the Pitinikas almost to a certainty.
For a period of less than a hundred years after Aśoka, we have the evidence of Khâravela (E. I., XX, 79) that "all the Rathikas and Bhojakas" fought against him together. This shows that there was more than one Rathika republican chief and probably more than one Bhojaka republican chief, and that the two were distinct, though closely allied. They were probably, therefore, close neighbours: Bhoja-Rastrika-Pitinika made really one group. Location of the Raṣṭrika, Pitinika and Bhoja States.
13. According to a passage of the Mahá-Bharata one had to cross the Chambal to reach the Bhoja state and the Nava-Râstras or Nine Râstras.39 According to another passage, the Bhojas were between Karûşa and Sindh (Sindhu-Pulindakas).40 The Bhojas were allied to Krisna's kinsmen, the Andhaka-Vrisnis, and migrated with them to Western India from Śûrasena. They must have settled near them, that is near Kathiawâr. The position suggest. ed by the Maha-Bharata 39 is below Sindh and to the west of the Mâlavas, with whom are associated the Karûsas (ATGATHTH, Matsya, 113. 52). By crossing the Chambal one came into the Mâlava country. The locality thus suggested is between Sindh and Malava. The limit of the Malavas in Western India was Mount Abu, Arbuda, (Arbuda-Málavah), i.e., the Aravali range. Leaving the Bhojas here, let us see if we can be more definite about the Râştrikas or Lathikas.
Our best guide here is Ptolemy. He places Larikê between the mouth of the Mahi river and the peninsula of Kathiawâr (McCrindle, p. 38) and extends its dominions from the mouth of the Narmada (Barygaza) to the east of Indo-Skythia or Sindh (McCrindle, p. 152). Ptolemy's Poulindai, whom Yule places to the NE. of the Ran of Kacch (McCrindle, p. 157), are the Sindhu Pulindas of the Sanskrit texts. Lárika is an exact rendering of Ráṣṭrika in its Prakrit form.
We have thus on the authority of Ptolemy (c. 150 A.D.) Larikê extending from Bharoach to the Gulf of Kacch, i.e., the modern Gujarât (west of Western Malwâ). Larikê seems to have extended up to the river Sarasvati-noted by Varâhamihira as the limit of Western India (rfect react af:)-which rises from the Aravali hills and falls into the Gulf of Kacch. Ptolemy s limits of Larikê coincide with those of Lata-desa of Sanskrit 40 Bhiama parvan, cited by Wilson and Hall, V. P., ii, 158 (ch. IX, 38-40).
39 Sabhd, ch. 31 (1-7).