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146
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(JULY, 1914.
The Prasthalas, 28 the Madras, 30 the Gandhâras (a people of the north-west Panjab, the classical Gandarii), the people named Arattas, the Khasas, the Vasâtis, the Sindhus and Sauviras (two tribes dwelling on the Indus), are almost as despicable.30
In the supplement to the Mahabharata, known as the Harivansa, we also find referenoes to the Khasas. Thus it is said 31 that King Sagara conquered the whole earth, and a list is given of certain tribes. The first two are the Khaśas and the Tukhâras. The latter were Iranian inhabitants of Balkh and Badakhshan, the Tokharistân of Musalman writers.
In another place, 32 the Harivasha tells how an army of Greeks (Yavanas) attacked Krishộa when he was at Mathura. In the army were Sakas (Scythians), Tukhâras,33 Daradas (Dards), Paradas, 33 Taiganas, 33 Khasas, Pahlavas(Parthians), and other barbarians (Mléchchhas) of the Himalaya.
Many references to the Khaśas occur in the Puranas. The most accessible are those in the Vishnu and Markandeya Puranas, which have translations with good indexes. I shall rely principally upon these, but shall also note a few others that I have collected.
The Vishnu Purdna34 tells the story of Khasa, the wife of Kasyapa, with her sons Yaksha and Rakshaga and her Pisacha stepson already given. It also tells (IV, iii) the story of Sagara, but does not mention the Khaśas in this connexion, nor does the Bhagavata Purana in the corresponding passage (IX, viii). The Vayu Purana, on the other hand, in telling the story mentions the Khasas, but coupling them with three other tribes. Of these three, one belongs to the north-west, and the other two to the south of India, so that we cannot glean from it anything decisive as to the locality of the Khasas.
A remarkable passage in the Bhagavata Purina (II, iv, 18) gives a list of a number of outcast tribes, which have recovered salvation by adopting the religion of Krishna. The tribes belong to various parts of India, but the last four are the Abhiras, 35 the Kankas, 86 the Yavanas, and the Khaśas (v. 1. Sakas). Here again we have the Khasas mentioned among north-western folk.
Again in the story of Bharata, the same Purdna tells how that monarch conquered (IX. xx, 29) a number of the barbarian (Mléchchha) kings, who had no Brahmaņs. These were the kings of the Kiratas, Húņas, Yavanas, Andhras, Kankas, Khasas, and Sakas. The list is a mixed one, but the last three are grouped together and point to the north-west.
23 Locality not identified.
29 In the Panjab, close to the Ambashshas (see above). Their capital was Sakala, the Sagala of Ptolemy. In verse 2049 of the passage quoted, we have & song celebrating the luxury of Sakala. "When shall I next sing the songs of the Bahikas in this Bakala town, after having feasted on cow's flesh, and drunk strong wine? When shall I again, dressed in fine garmente, in the company of fair-complexioned large sized women, eat much mutton, pork, beef, and the flesh of fowls, asses and camels? They who eat not mutton live in vain." So do the inhabitants, drunk with wine, sing." How can virtue be found among such a people ?"
30. At the time that the Satapatha Brahmand was written, the Bahfkas were not altogether outside the Aryan pale. It is there (I, vii, iii, 8) said that they worship Agni under the name of Bhava. 31 784.
32 6440.
33 See above 31 I, xxi.
55 On the Indus, the Abiria of Ptolemy. 36 Kankas have not been identified, but in the list of nations who brought presenta to Yudhishthira already mentioned (Mahabharata, II, 1850) they are mentioned together with the Sakas, Tukhårse, and Romas (1 Romans), 1., as coming from the north-west,
