Page:History of India Vol 1.djvu/168

128 enjoyment of pleasures and called Bhoja ('the enjoyer').

"Then the divine Adityas inaugurated him in the western region during thirty-one days, with those three Rig verses, that Yajur verse, and those great words for obtaining independent rule. Hence all kings of the Nichyas and Apachyas in the western countries are inaugurated to independent rule and called 'independent rulers.'

"Then the Visvedevas inaugurated him during thirty-one days in the northern region by those three Rig verses, that Yajur verse, and those great words, for distinguished rule. Hence all people living in northern countries beyond the Himalaya, such as the Uttara Kurus and Uttara Madras, are inaugurated for living without a king and called Viraj ('without a king').

"Then the divine Sadhyas and Aptyas inaugurated Indra during thirty-one days in the middle region, which is a firmly established footing ('the immovable centre') to the kingship. Hence the kings of the Kuru Panchalas, with the Vasas and Usinaras, are inaugurated to kingship and called 'kings.'"

This passage shows us at a glance the whole of the Hindu world as it existed at the close of the Epic Period. To the farthest east lived the Videhas and the Kasis and the Kosalas, as we have seen before, and those newest and youngest of the Hindu colonists excelled in learning and reputation their elder brethren in the west.

In the south, some bands of Aryan settlers must