________________
SAI
172
SAK
Sailoda-The river Jaxartos which flows through the northern extremity of Sogdiana (Matsya
P., ch. 120 and J ASB., Vol. LXXI, p. 156). But the Jaxartes has been identified with the river Sità (see sita). The identification of Sailoda with the Jaxartes does not appear to be correct (see Brahmanda P., ch. 51). The river is said to be situated between the Meru and Mandara mountains (Mbh., Sabha, ch. 51) and near Uttara-kuru (Ramayana,
Kishk., ch. 43). Sairindhra-Sirhind (scc Bțihat-samhita, XIV, ch. 29). Sairishaka-Sirsa in the Panjab (Mbh., Sabha, ch. 32). Saitabahini-Same as Bahuda (Amarakosha). Såkadvipa-Tartary including Turkestan in Central Asia, the country of the Sakas (JASB.,
Vol. LXXI, p. 154). Soy-thia and Sog-dia-na are corruptions of Saka-dvfpa. According to the Greek geographers the Sakas lived to the east of Sogdiana, now called the Pamir, the country between Bokhara and Samarkhand. According to Strabo the country lying to the east of the Caspian Sea was called Scythia (see also Ragozin's Assyria, ch. 12). In 160 B.c. the Sakas or Sse were expelled from Sogdiana by the Yushtis or Yuehchis, a tribe of the Tatars. The Sakas, after fighting their way, through the Greek kingdoms, ceded to Chandragupta by Seleukos and which had become independent after the death of Asoka, invaded India through Sindh and established themselves at Mathura, Ujjayini and Girinegara, as Kshatrapas or viceroys under their king at Seistan which means "the land of the Sse". or Sakas. Meanwhile the five tribes of the Yushtis or Yuehchis being pressed from behind conquered Baktria in 126 B.C. (see Balhlka and Sakala and Panchanada). About a century afterwards the Kushanas one of the branches became predominant. The Kushanas after defeating the Saka suzerain in Seistan pushed forward and conquered the Panjab and ousted the Saka satrap from Mathura, and they made Takshasila their capital of the king. dom extending from Baktria to the Doab of the Ganges, and Mathurremained their subordinate capital. Kanishka, belonging to the Kushan tribe of the Tartars, became the king of the Kushan kingdom in the first or second century A.D. The resemblance of the following names of the countries, rivers and mountains in Sakadvipa as given in the ancient Hindu works to those mentioned by Ptolemy in his geography is striking - Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva, ch. 11-Ptolemy (MoCrindle's translation pp. 283-297. Sakadvipa.
Skythia.
Countries (Varshas). Kumuda
. .. Inhabited by the Komedai (a mountain district
called Komedorum Montes by the Greeks) between the source of the Oxus and the Jaxartes. Komedorum Montes is the Tsung. hing mountain of Hiuen Tsiang : 800 Kiu
mi-to in Beal's RWC., Vol. I, p. 41. Sukumara
Komaroi. Jalada
.. Golaktophagoi. Jalandhara
. Salateroi (p. 268) or the Zaratoi (p. 288).
Countries (Janapada). Mriga .. .. .. .. .. Margine or Margiana, present Merv (Brete
chneider's Medical Researches, Vol. II,
p. 103).
Massagetai. Mandaga .. .. .. .. Makhaitegoi.
Masaka ..
..
