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GEOGRAPHICAL PLACES, PEOPLES AND TRIBES
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to establish his suzerainty over the latter. Ativīrya who is said to be the king of Nandāvattapura (37. 3. Nandyāvartapura), had demanded military help from Mahidhara. Rāma proceeds from Vijayapura to the site of the battle. He captures Ativirya, makes him to accept the suzerainty of Bharata, and returns to Vijayapura.
Ancient Vākā taka inscriptions record one Nandivardhana which is identified with modern Nagardhan or Nandardhan near Ramtek about 13 miles north of Nagpur? Nandivardhana is considered to be one of the capitals of the Vākāțakas. The capital was shifted to this place from Purika and later on it was shifted to Pravarapura (about 430 cent. A.D.). The reference to Ativīrya's expansionism seems to be an allusion to the probable attempt of some Vākāțaka king for expanding his territory and then his defeat at the hands of the Nalas. 2
It is said that Ativīrya was helped with military contingents by the lords of Anga (37. 7), Pañcāla (37, 8), Pundapura Paundrakṣmas (37. 9), Magadha4 and many Yavana lords (Jaunāhivai 37. 10). Anga is identified with the modern districts of Bhagalpur and Monghyr. It was one of the great Mahājanapadas in ancient
India, Pañcāla roughly corresponds to modern Budaon, Farrukhabad and the adjoining districts of U. P.7 Pundapura is probably Pundravardhana, Rāma also refers to it as Pondavaddhana. He asks Śatrughna whether he would like to become the ruler of it (86.2). It is identified with Mahasthan seven miles north of the modern town of Bogra. It was the capital of the ancient Paundras or Paundrakas. (See further for the Yavanas & Magadha).
Kșemañjalipura :-From Vijayapura Rāma traversing the forest reaches Ksemañjalipura (38.22). Here Lakşmana wins the hand of Jitapadmā, the daughter of king Satrudamana. It is not identified. The PCS mentions that it lay at some distance from Godāvarī (31 4.1).
Ramagiri & Dandakāranya :-Proceeding further Rāma traverses a dense forest (Mahädavim 39.1) and reaches Varšasthalapura,
4.
1. HGAI, p. 323. 2. VGA, p. 105-109; See also. 3. PCR, 37. 17.
See Infra. 5. The PCR calls them 'Yavanadhipab' (37. 20). 6. GE, I. p. 13. 7. GE, I. p. 133. 8. HGAI, p. 246–247.
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