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CHAPTER LIV THE PUNDRAS
The Pundras seem to have been a very ancient people. They are mentioned in the Aitareya Brāhmana (VII, 18), where they are described as outcaste descendants of Viśvāmitra. Viśvāmitra, so the story goes, had many sons; but he adopted the Bhārgava Sunahśepa, calling him Devarāta, and made him the chief of all his sons. But the other sons did not all accept Devarāta's headship; and it is said that Viśvāmitra cursed those who repudiated it to become mlecchas or dog-eaters 1 such as Andhras, Pundras and Sabaras.
The Pundras are mentioned in the Sūtras as well (cf. Baudhāyana, I, 2, 14), and in Manu's Dharmaśāstra (10, 43-4)here in the form Paundraka. But they are most frequently mentioned in the Purāṇas and Epics by the name of their originator, Pundra, one of the eponymous Bāleya Kșatras'3 (see Vanga Chap.). It is said that Vasudeva defeated the Pundras along with the Angas, Vargas, Kalingas, Kāśīs, Košalas, Karūsas and others (Mbh., Dronaparvan, XI). Jarāsandha, king of Magadha, is referred to in the Harivamsa (Chap. 116) as having once held sway over the Pundras as well as over the Angas, Vangas and Kalingas.
In the Rāmāyaṇa (Kişkindhyā Kānda, XLI, 12), Pundra is referred nto as a southern country, but, according to the Purāṇas and the Mahābhārata, the realm of the Pundras seems to have been situated in the eastern division, as they are always associated with the (Vangas, Angas and Kalingas, as also with the Suhmas. This is also supported by Rājasekhara's Kāvyamīmāmsā, which places the Pundra country in the east along with Prāgjyotisa and Tāmralipta.4 This determines the correctness of the usually accepted identification of the ancient Pundra country with what later came to be known as Pundravardhana.
The Puņdras are sometimes referred to as Pauņdras, Pauņdrakas (cf. Manusamhitā), or even Pauņdrikas. In the Mahābhārata,
1 Mahābhārata, XIII, Chap. 3.
2 Cf. also Sāňkhyāyana Śr. Sūtra, XV, 26; vide Pargiter, Ancient Indian Historical Tradition, p. 235.
3 Brahma P., Chap. 13, 30-1; Agni P., Chap. 278; Matsya P., Chap. 48, 19; Vişnu P., IV, Chap. 18, 1-2; Mh., Adiparvan, Chap. 104; Garuda P., Chap. 143,
V.7: Chap. 17.
