Text 18] The Process of Creation 201
PURPORT

Kirata: A province of old Bharatavarsa mentioned in the Bhisma Parva
of Mahabharata. Generally the Kiratas are known as the aboriginal tribes
of India, and in modern days the Santal Parganas in Bihar and Chota
Nagpur might comprise the old province named Kirata.

Hina: The area of East Germany and part of Russia is known as the
province of the Hiinas. Accordingly, sometimes a kind of hill tribe is
known as the Hiinas.

Andhra: A province in Southern India mentioned in the Bhisma Parva
Mahabharata. It is still extant under the same name.

Pulinda: It is mentioned in the Mahabharata, (Adi 174.38) viz.,the in-
habitants of the province of the name Pulinda. This country was con-
quered by Bhimasena and Sahadeva. The Greeks are known as Pulindas,
and it is mentioned in the Vana Parva of Mahabharata that the non-Vedic
race of this part of the world would rule over the world. This Pulinda
Province was also one of the provinces of Bharata, and the inhabitants
were Classified amongst the ksatriya kings. But later on, due to their giving
up the brahminical culture, they were mentioned as mlecchas (just as
those who are not followers of the Islamic culture are called kafirs, and
those who are not followers of the Christian culture are called heathens).

Abhira: This name also appears in the Mahabharata, both in the Sabha
Parva and Bhisma Parva. It is mentioned that this province was situated
on the River Sarasvati in Sind. The modern Sind Province formerly ex-
tended on the other side of the Arabian Sea, and all the inhabitants of that
province were known as the Abhiras. They were under the domination of
Maharaja Yudhisthira, and, according to the statements of Markandeya,
the mlecchas of this part of the world would also rule over Bharata. Later
on this proved to be true, as it was proved in the case of the Pulindas. On
behalf of the Pulindas, Alexander the Great conquered India, and on be-
half of the Abhiras, Mohammed Ghori conquered India. These Abhiras
were also formerly ksatriyas within the brahminical culture, but they gave
up the connection. But the ksatriyas, who were afraid of Parasurama and
had hidden themselves in the Caucasian hilly regions, later on became
known as the Abhiras, and the place they inhabited was known as Abhira-
desa.

Sumbha or the Kankas: the inhabitants of the Kaka province of old
Bharata, mentioned in the Mahabharata.

Yavanas: Yavana was the name of one of the sons of Maharaja Yayati
who was given the part of the world known as Turkey to rule over. There-
fore the Turks are Yavanas due to being descendants of Maharaja Yavana.
