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CHAPTER LXI
THE SINDHU-SAUVIRAS
The Sauvīras seem to have been an ancient people. Their country is mentioned as early as Baudhāyana's Dharmasūtra. It was at that time considered an impure country, situated outside the limits of Aryandom proper; and Aryans who happened to go there were required to perform a sacrifice of purification on their return.1 In later literature, the Sauvīras are often connected with their neighbouring tribe, the Sindhus, and the inclusive name 'SindhuSauvīra', at once determines that the two tribes which were later regarded as one and the same were settled on the Sindhu or Indus.
The Sauviras and Sindhus seem to have played an important part in the Kuruksetra war; they are described in the Bhīşmaparvan as having joined the Kauravas, along with the Bhargas, Andhras, Kirātas, Košalas and Gāndhāras.2 Elsewhere, the Sauvīras are said to have supported Bhisma in the war, together with the Sālvas, Matsyas, Ambasthas, Traigarttas, Kekayas and Kaitavas. In Bhīşmaparvan (51, 14), the Sindhus and Sauvīras are mentioned together, and are associated with the Sivas, Vaśātis and Gāndhāras. In a late passage of the Epic,4 mention is made of a Greek overlord (Yavanādhipa) of Sauvira; he must have been one of those IndoBactrian princes who established themselves in the north and western portions of India between about 200 B.C. and 200 A.D. According to the Rāmāyana (Bengal recension, Kis. K., 41, 8-10) the Sindhu-Sauvīras were settled in the western division of India
The Sindhus (or Saindhavas) and Sauvīras are usually conjoined in the Purāņas, though they are mentioned separately in the Vişnupurāna. According to the Mārkandeya Purāna, they were located in the north (LVII, 36; LVIII, 30); but the Vişnupurāna places them in the extreme west along with the Hūņas, Sālvas, Sākalas, Madras (see Madra Chapter for their location, etc.; Wilson's Visnu P., Hall's Ed. II, III, 133). Puranic tradition seems to point to the intimate relation of the Sauviras with the Sivis, and therefore with their neighbouring Uśīnaras as well. The Sauvīras were traditionally descended from Suvira, one of the four sons of Sivi Auśīnara. Sivi and his sons are said to have founded the
1 Baud., I, I, 2. 3 Bhīşmaparvan, Chap. 18, 13-14. 4 Ādiparvan, Chap. 139, 21-3.
2 Chap. 9, p. 822. 5 Book II, Chap. III.
