1902.] S. C. Vidyabhusana— Vrdtya and Satnkara Theories of Caste. 169 
India mentioned in the Nirukta (3-8). In the Latyayana-frauta- Sutra 
(8-2-8) mention has been made of Nisada-qramas (villages possessed by 
Nisadas). In the Ramayana (Ayodhya kanda 50) we find that Guha, 
the lord of Nisadas, who reigned in Sringaverapura was so pious that 
he showed hospitality to Ramachandra during his exile in the forest. 
Some say Sringaverapura lay in Berar; others think it was situated in 
the neighbourhood of the district of Mirzapore, while a third class of 
scholars identifiy it with Sungroor. 
Pdrasava. —Same as Nisada. 
Ugra (Aguri). —Son of a Ksatriya father and S'udra mother. 
Avrita. —According to Manu, son of a Brahmana father and Ugra 
mother. Avrta is perhaps the same as Abaortse that, according to 
Megasthenes, lived beyond the Indus towards the Caucasus. McCrindle 
(Megasthenes, p. 149) observes :— 
“The Afghan tribe of the Afridis may perhaps represent the Ab- 
aortae. ” 
Abhira. —According to Manu, son of a Brahmana father and Am. 
bastha mother. In reality the Abhiras (the Ahirs of common speech) 
were the pastoral tribes that inhabited the lower districts of the north¬ 
west as far as Sindh. The country of the Abhiras was called Abiria (in 
Indo-Scythia) that lay to the east of the Indus above where it bifurcates 
to form the delta. Some scholars maintain that Abiria was the same as 
Ophir of the Christian Scriptures.* According to the Visnupurana (Book 
IV, Chap. 24) the Abhiras conquered Magadha and reigned there for 
several years. 
Suta. —According to Manu, son of a Ksatriya father and Brahmana 
mother. But Suta was perhaps the same as Setrn that, according to 
Megasthenes, lived in the neighbourhood of Dardistan. 
Vaidehaka. —According to Manu, son of a Vai£ya father and Brah¬ 
mana mother. But Vaidehakas were perhaps a tribe of the aborigines 
of Videha (Darbhanga). 
Cancldla. —According to Manu, son of a S'udra father and Brahmana 
mother. This was in reality the name of the ferocious aborigines of India 
Magadha. —According to Manu, son of a Ksatriya mother and 
Vai 9 ya father. This was probably an aboriginal tribe of Behar. 
Ksattri. —According to Manu, son of a S'udra father and Ksatriya 
mother. But according to Greek writersf the people that held the 
territory comprised between the Hydraotes (Ravi) and the Hyphasis 
(Biyas) were the Kathaioi (or Ksatriaioi) whose capital was Sangala. 
'The name is still found spread over an immense area in the north-west 
of India, under forms slightly variant. A tribe of the Ksattris named 
? . - ' - =■ - * ■ - 
♦ McCcindle’s Ptolemy, p. 140. 
f McCrindle’s Ptolemy, pp. 157-58. 
