Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

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Sec. V]
Pulindis (Pulindas)
The Pulindis are also mentioned in other Jaina texts1, Brāhmaṇical' and Buddhist works, epigraphic records, and foreign accounts as a distinct non-Aryan tribe.
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA
The earlist reference to the Pulindas occurs in the Aitareya Brahmana where they are associated with the Andhras, the Pundras, the Sabaras, etc., who belonged to the clan of Visvamitra but were essentially constituted of the Dasyus. In the Aśokan Edict' they are also mentioned along with the Andhras who were settled on the frontier of his empire. Their name is interpreted in the Tibetan Mahavyutpatti by Gym Po as "outcaste and in Chinese by Tukva the race which kills the beasts for their food."" The Pulindas appear also in the geography of Ptolemy10 as Poulindai with the epithet 'agriophagoi' which means wild-eaters.
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It appears from all the sources" that they were a wellknown non-Aryan tribe settled over the region extending from Malwa to the Godavari.12
Pukkhalis (Puskalis)
The Pukkhalis may be the Puskalas of the Märkandeya Purana.13 They were associated with Puskalavati, the old capital of Gandhara which is also recorded in the foreign accounts by different variations of this name, such as, Greek forms-Peukelaotis,
1 Panhavagarana, St. 332, 397; Pannavana Sutta, 1. ; Pauma-Cariu of Sayambhu, S., 21.
Aitareya Brahmana-7. 18; Markandeya Purana--57. 45-8; Matsya Purana, III 46-8; Vayu Purana, 5, 12, 6; Mbh, III, 188; Rāmā. 4, 43. 103; 44, 129; Raghuvamsa, XV, 32. 3 Mahavamsa, 1. 68. 4 Asokan R. E. XIII. Ptolemy's Ancient India-VII. 164.
Aitareya Brahmana-7. 18. See Mbh, 175, 6685 and Mahavamsa, 1, 68 for their different origins.
7 R. E. XIII.
8 Mahāvyutpatti, 188, 15.
Vide, Pre-Aryan, Pre-Dravidian in India pp. 88-91, Sylvain Levi. 10 Ptolemy's Ancient India VII. 164.
11 Märkandeya. Purana, 57, 45-8; Matsya P. III, 46-8; Paumacariu, S. 21, etc.
12 Pre-Aryan and Pre-Dravidian India pp. 88-91; translation by Dr. P. C. Bagchi.
18 Märkandeya Purana, 57.
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