Asii

Asii, also written Asioi, were one of the nomadic tribes mentioned in Roman and Greek accounts as responsible for the downfall of the state of Bactria circa 140 BCE. These tribes are usually identified as "Scythian" or "Saka" peoples.

Historical sources

The texts relating to the Asii are very brief. The three main surviving classical sources are those of Strabo, Trogus and Justin. Both Trogus' Historiae Philippicae (as preserved in Justin) and Strabo's Geography exist in a number of ancient manuscripts containing significant textual variations leading to widely varying translations and interpretations.

Gnaeus Pompeius Trogus

Trogus (Gnaeus Pompeius Trogus; fl. 1st century BCE) wrote his Historiae Philppicae in Latin. Unfortunately, only his 'Prologues' have survived intact. He mentions three tribes involved in the conquest of Bactria: the Asiani, Sacaraucae and the Tochari, of whom the Sacaraucae were said to have been destroyed. The Asiani are reported as becoming, at some point, rulers over the Tochari, though this text is sometimes translated as the "Asian kings of the Tochari."

Marcus Junianus Justinus, a late 2nd or 3rd century Roman historian, wrote an epitome or condensation of Trogus' history. The last datable event recorded by Justin is the recovery of the Roman standards captured by the Parthians in 20 BCE, although Trogus’ original history may have dealt with events into the first decade of the 1st century CE.

In Bactrianis autem rebus ut a Diodoto rege constitutum imperium est: deinde quo regnante Scythicae gentes, Saraucae et Asiani, Bactra occupavere et Sogdianos.

—Trogus' Prologue, Book 41^[1]

The report on the history of the Baktrians first speaks of king Diodotos by whom this realm was founded. Next, under which Scythian tribes' rulers – namely the Saraucae and the Asiani – Baktra and the country of the Sogdians was occupied. Next, under which [Greek] ruler Scythian tribes, namely the Saraucae and Asiani, occupied Bactria and the land of the Sogdians."

—English version of Seel's German translation.^[2]

Additae his res Scythicae. Reges Tocharorum Asiani interitusque Saraucarum. (In English: There is also a section on Scythian history, then one on the Asian kings of the Tochari, and on the demise of the Saraucae.)

—Trogus' Prologue, Book 42 ^[3]

Strabo

Strabo (Στράβων; 64/63 BCE – 24 CE) wrote in Greek and completed his Geography in 23 CE, around the time of Trogus. He mentions four tribes: the Asioi (commonly accepted as the equivalent of the Latin Asii), the Pasianoi, the Tacharoi (or Tokharoi) and the Sakaraukai.

ΜΑΛΕС ΜΑΛΙСΤΑ ΔΕΓΝωРІΜОΙΓΕΓО ΝΑСΙΝΤωΝΝОΜΑ ΔωΝОІΤОΥСΕΛΛΗ ΝΑСΑΦΕΛОΜΕΝОΙ TΗΝΒΑΚΤΡΙΑΝΗ AСІОІΚΑΙΠΑСІΑΝОІ ΚΑІΤΑΧΑΡОІΚΑІСΑ ΚΑΡΑΥΚΑІОΡΜΗΘΕ ΤΕСΑΠОΤΗСΠΕΡΑІ ΑСΤОΥΤΙAΞΑΡΤОΥ ΤΗСΚΑΤΑСΑΚΑСΚΑΙ CОΓΔОΑΝОΥСΗΝ KΑΤΕΙΧОΝСΑΚΙ"

—The 5th century Vatican palimpsest, earliest known Greek text of the key passage from Strabo's Geography 11.8.2

This translates as:

But the best known of the nomads are those who took away Baktrianē from the Greeks; the Asioi and the Pasianoi, and the Tacharoi and the Sakaraukai, who originally came from the other side of the Iaxartou that adjoins that of the Sakai and the Sogdoanou and was occupied by the Saki.

In 1725 J. F. Vaillant ^[4] proposed that the phrase usually given as ΑΣΙΟI KAI ΠΑΣΙΑΝΟI ([The] Asioi and Pasianoi) in Strabo 10.8.2 should be amended to ACΙΟΙ H ACΙΑΝΟ ([The] Asioi or Asianoi).

Vaillant had noticed that Trogus (Prologues XLI) mentions the "Scythian" people of the Asiani, who could be identified with the Asioi of Strabo.

The history of this manuscript has only been understood since the studies consecrated to W. Aly. Copied in Byzantium about the end of the 5th century... All the later manuscripts with Π and all the direct quotations of medieval times derive from a single prototype of the "Geography" carrying the title of Γεωγραφικά.

—^[5]

Pliny the Elder

Pliny the Elder (23 CE–25 August 79 CE) wrote his famous Naturalis Historia with a brief mention of a people called the Asini:

and the Asini, a people who dwell in three cities, their capital being Bucephala, which was founded around the tomb of the horse belonging to king Alexander, which bore that name. Above these peoples there are some mountain tribes, which lie at the foot of Caucasus, the Soseadæ and the Sondræ, and, after passing the Indus and going down its stream, the Samarabriæ, the Sambraceni, the Bisambritæ, the Orsi, the Anixeni, and the Taxilæ, with a famous city, which lies on a low but level plain, the general name of the district being Amenda: there are four nations here, the Peucolaitæ, the Arsagalitæ, the Geretæ, and the Assoï.

—^[6][7]

Pliny mentions as neighbours of the Soseadae the people of the Asini, who are reigning in the city of Bucephela. From these three data; 1) the Tacoraei are neighbours of the Besadae/Sosaeadae; 2) the Asini are the neighbours of the Sosaeadae; 3) The Asiani are kings of the Thocari, it follows that the Asini of Pliny's text are identical with the Asiani, who are the kings of the Tocharians. This implies that—at least in the time of Pliny—the Kushāṇas were kings of the region between Jhelam and Indus and that Bucephala was one of their cities. It seems that Pliny availed himself of a recent description of this territory and that Ptolemy knew these data too.

—^[8]

This town - Bucephalus/Bukephalus - has been identified with modern Jalāpur.^[9]

Theories on the identification of the Asii

Many theories have been proposed by historians and other scholars as to their origins, relationships, language, culture, etc., but so far no consensus has emerged.

It is generally accepted that Trogus' Asiani were probably identical to the Asii of Strabo,^[10] perhaps leaving an extra tribe, the 'Pasiani' of Strabo, to account for.

Some scholars believe that the Asii and the Pasiani were one and the same tribe, with 'Pasiani' a simple mistake for 'Asiani' and just a different form of the name for the Asii. Others believe the 'Pasiani' were a separate tribe, with the Greek letter Π a scribal error for Η, in which case the beginning of the passage would read: "[the] Asii also (known as) the Asiani"; while others believe that 'Pasiani' is a mistaken form of 'Gasiani' (with the Greek letter Π a scribal error for Γ).^[11][12][13]

Issedones

The Asii/Asiani may simply be a transcription of the Issedones of Herodotus. Taishan Yu proposes that Asii were "probably" the dominant tribe of the confederacy of four tribes "from the time that they had settled in the valleys of the Ili and Chu" who later invaded Sogdiana and Bactria. "This would account for their being called collectively "Issedones" by Herodotus." He also states that the "Issedon Scythia and the Issedon Serica took their names from the Issedones."^[14] Yu believes that the Issedones must have migrated to the Ili and Chu valleys, "at the latest towards the end of the 7th century B.C."^[15][16]

Yuezhi and Wusun

W. W. Tarn first thought that the Asii were probably one part of the Yuezhi, the other being the Tochari. However, he later expressed doubts as to this position.^[17][18].

The Asii were identical with the Paisani (Gaisani) and were, therefore, also the Yuezhi.

—J. Markwart. Ērānšahr^[19]

It has been suggested that the Wusun may also be identified in Western sources as their name, pronounced then *o-sən or *uo-suən, is not far removed from that of a people known as the Asiani who the writer Pompeius Trogus (1st century BC) informs us were a Scythian tribe.

—J. P. Mallory and Victor H.Mair The Tarim Mummies^[20]

The Yuezhi and the Wusun were originally two branches of the same people, the Yuezhi being the 'Moon clan'; while the Wusun were the 'Solar clan'.

—Yury Aleksey Zuev, Early Turks: Essays of History and Ideology^[21]

The Asii were probably one of three Scythian tribes, whereas the Tochari were probably not, and should be identified with the Yuezhi.

—A. K. Narain The Indo-Greeks^[22]

Kushans

One of the most important sources of information on nomad migration in Central Asia is Justin's Prologue to Pompeius Trogus (prologue to book XLII), which states that 'the Asiani are kings of the Tochari and destroyed the Scaraucae' (Reges Tocharorum Asiani interiusque Sakaraucarum). It is possible to conclude from this extract that the Asiani and the Tochari were closely related tribes. What is more, it indicates that the 'Asiani' dominated the 'Tochari' (Reges Tocharorum Asiani). We can identify the Asiani with the Kushans (von Gutschmidt 1888; Haloun 1937; Bachhofer 1941; Daffina 1967), one of the leading tribes, which subsequently came to power and created a great empire. It is noteworthy that Justin says that the Tochari were ruled by the Asiani, while the Chinese sources identify them as the largest of the five Yuezhi principalities.

—Kazim Abdullaev, Nomad Migrations in Central Asia^[23]

Alans

The Asii/Asiani have also been identified with the Alans – i.e. a western Central Asian population, rather than the Yuezhi-Tochari of eastern Bactria – from whom the modern Ossetians derive their name.

With this identification of the Asii-Asiani, the Prologues seem instead to concern two later distinct periods already disconnected from the time of Eucratides. Moreover, from a geographical point of view, they describe events not related to the eastern, but to the western border of the Graeco-Bactrian kingdom, that is a region which was in close contact with Parthia. Therefore, the ethnonym of the Asii-Asiani should be transferred westwards, that is to a different historical context (the Kangju area).^[16][24]

Asiaghs and Rishikas/Arshikas

The Asii have also been identified with the Sanskrit Asiagh.^[25][26][27] According to Kautilya they were "The people who depended on Asii (sword) for their living".

On the other hand, James Tod thought the Greek term Asii/Asio was equivalent to Sanskrit Aswa/Asva and Asvaka and refers to 'horse' as well as the Scythic people connected with horse-culture.^{[28][29][30][31]} The Aswa or Asvaka people are generally believed to be a sub-section of the wider Kamboja group,^[32] a widespread tribe of horsemen inhabiting both sides of the Hindukush mountains.

The Sabha Parava of the Indian epic Mahabharata, many sections of which are believed to relate to historical events from around the Christian era, refers to the Bahlikas, Daradas, Kambojas, Dasyus, Lohas, Parama Kambojas,^[33] Uttara (Northern) Rishikas ^[34] and Parama Rishikas.^[35] The latter four tribes are by implication placed north of the Hindukush in Central Asia.^[36]

In his Mahabhasya, Patanjali refers to the Arshikas^[37] which are said to be same as the Rishikas. Kasika on Pāṇini (IV.2.132) also mentions the Arshikas and connects them with the Rishikas .^[38] The Sanskrit tribal name Rishika has Arshika as its adjective form, the Prakrit form is Isi and Isika^[39][40] or Asi and Asika.

The equivalents of the four Scythian tribes mentioned by Strabo (Asii, Pasiani, Tochari and Sacarauli) have also been found in Indian literature.

The Greeks were acquainted both with the Sanskrit forms Risika/Arsika and their Prakrit forms Isi/Isika. The Greek Asii (Appolodorus) may then represent Prakrit Isi and the Plinian Arsi the Sanskrit Arsika.

Pliny the Elder (23–79) knew about the Arsi People who may or may not be same as Asii of Apollodorus. As classical Asii/Asioi stands for Prakrit Isi/Isika or Sanskrit Risika,^{[41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49]} Plinian Arsi may also be derived from Sanskrit Arsika.^[46]

We have seen above that the Grecians knew of Asiani and Arshi. There should be no difficulty now to acknowledge that the Prakrit Ishi-Ishika stands for the Grecian Asii and the Grecian Arshi stands for the Sanskrit form Arshika. Perhaps these were the constituents of the Yüeh-Chi. The Uttara Rishikas could be equated to Ta Yüeh-Chi of the Chinese history.

—Trade and Trade Routes in Ancient India^[50]

It is not difficult now to see that the Greek Asii is from Sanskrit Isi or Isi, and probably the Greek Arsi may be derived from Sanskrit Arsika

—Geographical and Economic Studies in the Mahābhārata^[51]

In Indian literature the tribal names Rishika and Arshika are connected: "Risikesu jatah Arsikah, Mahisakesu jatah Mahisakah".^[52][53]

J.L. Brockington also identifies the Rishikas with the Asii or Asioi of the classical writers.^[54][41][55]

The name Pasiani has never been explained satisfactorily. J. Marquart thinks that it is the same as Asiani, Von Gutschmid thinks the Pasiani and the other three names mentioned by Strabo are an attempt to render Yue-chi in Greek.^[56] W.W. Tarn, Moti Chandra and some other scholars think that "as Asiani is the (Iranian) adjectival form of Asii, so Pasiani would be the similar adjectival form of, and would imply, a name *Pasii or *Pasi".^[57][58][59] Moti Chandra further suggests that "the Grecian form Pasii could well stand for Sanskrit name Parama-Risika".^[60][61]

B.M. Barua and I.N. Topa write: "Asii/Asiani correspond to Chang Kien's Yue-chi and Asiani and Pasiani are the Indo-Iranian forms of Indo-Aryan Asika-Risikas and the Parama Risikas".^[62][63]

In an inscription on the pedestal of a Bodhisatta image, a woman named Amoha is called Asi (Arsi). In the alms house inscriptions of Huvishaka the Sakareya and Prachini people are mentioned, with the Pasii or Pasiani as equivalent to Prachini and the Sakaraula to Sakareya.^[64]

Scholars have pointed out that 'Yuezhi' in Chinese translates literally as "Moon clan" or "Moon tribe".^{[65][66][67][68][69]} The Mahabharata refers to the Kamboja king Chandravarman as descendant of "Candra" or "the moon".^[70] In one version of the Mahabharata, the king Chandravarma Kamboja is substituted with Chandravarma Risika which seems to endorse the view that the Kambojas and Rishikas were allied or cognate/or agnate people and one may have been a branch of the other.^{[71][72][73][74]} The epic verse Udyogaparava of the Mahabharata also intimately relates the Kambojas with the Rishikas. According to precise translation the Rishikas are in fact said to be the Kambojas.^[75] The Sabha Parava of the same epic also groups the Parama-Kambojas with the Lohas, Rishikas and the Parama-Rishikas as allied tribal groups.^[76] Kalhana's Rajatarangini, depicting historical events in Kashmir 730-740 AD, groups the Kambojas with the Tukharas^[77] and localizes them in the Oxus valley.^[78] In the Markandeya Purana the Tukharas are mentioned with the Kambojas, Daradas, Barbaras and Chinas as "vahyato narah" (foreign races).^[79]

S. Lévi claims the Yuezhi existed in the Deccan between 25 and 130 BCE, which he supports by numerous literary sources such as the Ramayana,^[80] Mahabharata,^[81] Kasika,^[82] Mahabhasya of Patanjali,^[83] Brhat Samhita of Varahamihira,^[84] Markandeya Purana,^[85] and Matsya Purana^[86] as well as the epigraphic evidence from the Nasik Cave Inscriptions of Queen Balasri which mentions the Rishikas (Asikas) as a component of Gautamiputra Satkaranai's empire.^[87] The Kambojas are also shown to have migrated and settled in south-west and southern India.

See also

• Tusharas
• Komedes
• Kambojas
• Rishikas
• Parama Kambojas
• Tocharians
• Invasion of India by Scythian Tribes

References

1. ^ M. Iuniani Iustini epitoma Historiarum Philippicarum Pompei Trogi, Accedunt prologi in Pompeium Trogum", p. 323. Ed. Otto Seel. (Stuttgart 1972). (Latin text based on an edition of Franz Ruel).
2. ^ Pompeius Trogus: Weltgeschichte von den Anfängen bis Augustus. Im Auszug des Justin, p. 438. Otto Seel. Artemis Verlag, Zürich/München.
3. ^ Justin: Epitome of the Philippic History of Pompeius Trogus, p. 284. (1994) Translated and with introduction by J. C. Yardley. The American Philological Association.
4. ^ Arsacidarum imperium, II, Paris 1725, p. 61
5. ^ Translated from: Strabon. Géographie. Vol. 1. (1969). Germaine Aujac and François Lassere. Paris. Les Belles Lettres (Association Guillaume Budé) pp. LIII and LVII.
6. ^ Translation from: Pliny the Elder, The Natural History. John Bostock, and H.T. Riley, (1855). VI,23.20 [1]
7. ^ "The Murundas and the ancient trade-route from Taxila to Ujjain." P. H. L. Eggermont. Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient, 9 (1966), p. 281 and n. 5.
8. ^ "The Murundas and the ancient trade-route from Taxila to Ujjain." P. H. L. Eggermont. Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient, 9 (1966), p. 283.
9. ^ Archaeological Reconnaissances in North-western India and South-eastern Īrān, pp. 31-32 and n. 15. Aurel Stein. (1937). Macmillan and Co., London.
10. ^ Iaroslav Lebedynsky. (2006). Les Saces: Les «Scythes» d'Asie, VIIIe siècle av. J.-C. — IVe siècle apr. J.-C. Editions Errance, Paris. ISBN 2-87772-337-2
11. ^ "The Yüeh-chih and their migrations." K. Enoki, G. A. Koshelenko and Z. Haidary. In: History of civilizations of Central Asia, Volume II. The development of sedentary and nomadic civilizations: 700 B.C. to A.D. 250", p. 173. Harmatta, János, ed., 1994. Paris: UNESCO Publishing.
12. ^ "The Tokharians and Buddhism", p. 3. Xu Wenkan, In: Studies in Central and East Asian Religions 9, pp. 1-17 (1996). Downloaded on June 14, 2003, from: [2]
13. ^ A Study of Saka History, pp. 140-141. Taishan Yu. Sino-Platonic Papers No. 80. July, 1998. Dept. of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Pennsylvania.
14. ^ Taishan Yu. A Study of Saka History, pp. 12, 15, 24, 140. (1998) Sino-Platonic Papers. University of Pennsylvania.
15. ^ Taishan Yu. A Study of Saka History, pp. 21 and 38, n. 13 (1998) Sino-Platonic Papers. University of Pennsylvania.
16. ^ ^{a b} J. P. Mallory and Victor H.Mair. (2000) The Tarim Mummies, p. 92. Thames & Hudson Ltd., New York and London. ISBN 0-500-05101-1.
17. ^ W. W. Tarn. The Greeks in Bactria and India. 2nd edition. (1951), pp. 284, 286, 533. Cambridge.
18. ^ Taishan Yu. A Study of Saka History, p. 40, n. 30. (1998) Sino-Platonic Papers. University of Pennsylvania.
19. ^ J. Markwart. Ērānšahr. (1901), p. 206. Referred to in: Taishan Yu. A Study of Saka History, p. 38, n. 17. (1998) Sino-Platonic Papers. University of Pennsylvania.
20. ^ J. P. Mallory and Victor H.Mair. (2000) The Tarim Mummies, pp.91-92. Thames & Hudson Ltd., New York and London. ISBN 0-500-05101-1.
21. ^ Rannie tyurki. Ocerki istorii i ideologii. (2002) Yury Aleksey Zuev. Daik-Press, Almaty, Kazakhstan. In Russian. English title: Early Turks: Essays of History and Ideology. Draft translation by Norm Kisamov, ), p. 10. See also, pp. 21, 23, 29-30, 33-34.
22. ^ A. K. Narain. The Indo-Greeks, p. 132. (1957). Oxford University Press.
23. ^ Kazim Abdullaev (2007). "Nomad Migrations in Central Asia." In: After Alexander: Central Asia before Islam. Proceedings of the British Academy - 133, Eds. Joe Cribb & Georgina Herrmann, p. 75. ISBN 978-0-19-726384-6.
24. ^ Rapin, Claude (2007). "Nomads and the Shaping of Central Asia." In: After Alexander: Central Asia before Islam. Proceedings of the British Academy - 133, Eds. Joe Cribb & Georgina Herrmann, pp. 59-60. ISBN 978-0-19-726384-6.
25. ^ Tod, James (1899). The annals and antiquities of Rajastʾhan: or the central and ..., Volume 2. Indian Publication Society. p. 1010. http://books.google.co.in/books?ei=QfOgS9KvD4TylQSPvZD1CQ&cd=1&id=rjJLAAAAYAAJ&dq=Asiagh+james+tod&q=Asiagh+Asi. 
26. ^ Jindal, Mangal Sen (1992). History of origin of some clans in India, with special reference to Jats. Sarup & Sons. http://books.google.co.in/books?ei=JvagS_WxIIrekwS4zN3nCQ&cd=1&id=XCtuAAAAMAAJ&dq=Mangal+jindal+jat&q=Asi. 
27. ^ Deshraj, Thakaur (1934). Jat Itihas (Hindi). Delhi: Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan. 
28. ^ "In Aswa, we have ancient race peopled on both sides of the Indus and probable etymon of Asia. The Assaceni, the Ari-aspii, the Aspasians and (the Asii) whom Strabo describes as Scythic race have the same origin. Hence Asi-gurh (Hasi/Hansi) and Asii-gard, the first settlements of Scythic Asii in Scandinavia" (see: Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, Reprint (2002), Vol I, p. 64. Also see: pp. 51-54, 87, 95; Vol-2, P 2, James Tod; The Cyclopædia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia: Commercial ..., 1885, p 196, Edward Balfour.
29. ^ The racial history of India, 1944, p 814-15, Chandra Chakraberty - Ethnology.
30. ^ Literary History of Ancient India in Relation to Its Racial and Linguistic Affiliations, 1953, pp 148, 152, Chandra Chakraberty - Sanskrit literature.
31. ^ While writing on the ethnography of Afghanistan, H. W. Bellow gives following information on the Asi/Asii:

    Yusaf (same as Isap) is divided into five clan—Isa, Musa, Bai, Aka and Urya. They occupy Kohistan or hill country of the Yusafzai or Isap, which is commonly called Yoghistan or independent country.

    Isa which is the Musalman form of Asi (Asva) has following sections Alisher, Aymal, Aypi, Burhan, Dadi, Gadae, Hasan, Hoti, Hyasw, Kika, Kamal, Kamboh (i.e Kambojia), Kanra, Khadin, Khaki, Kotwal, Lughman, Madi, Makho, Mama, Mashu, Musara, Mirhamad, Nasrat, Panjpao, Salar, Sen, Shergha, She, Taju, Taos, Warkam, Walayati, Ya, Zakarya etc (See: An Inquiry Into the Ethnography of Afghanistan, 1891, pp 80, 146, 150 Henry Walter Bellew).
32. ^ Historie du bouddhisme Indien, p. 110, E. Lammotte; Hindu Polity, A constitutional History of India in Hindu Times, 1978, p 140, K. P. Jayswal; Essai sur les origines du mythe d'Alexandre: 336-270 av. J. C., 1978, p 152, n 12, Paul Goukowsky; History; Panjab Past and Present, pp 9-10, Buddha Parkash; East and West, 1950, pp 28, 157-58, Istituto italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente, Editor, Giuseppe Tucci, Co-editors Mario Bussagli, Lionello Lanciotti; Political History of Ancient India, 1996, p 133 fn 6, pp 216-20, (Also Commentary p 576 fn 22), H. C. Raychaudhury, B. N. Mukerjee; History of Indian Buddhism: From the Origins to the Saka Era, 1988, p 100 - History.
33. ^ Farthest Kambojas or Para-Kambojas.
34. ^ NOTE: Besides Northern Rishikas, there was also another section of the Rishikas called southern Rishikas, inhabiting southern India near about Khandes on Krishna river which fact is amply attested from literary sources like Ramayana, Mahabharata, Markandeya Purana, Brhat-Samhita of Varahamihira, Patanjali, Kasika as well as by Nasik Cave Inscriptions of Queen Balasri of Satavahana dynasty which mentions the Rishikas (Asikas) as a component of Gautamiputra Satkaranai's empire.
35. ^ Farthest Rishikas or Para-Rishikas.
36. ^ Mahabharata 2.27.24-27; Geographical and Economic Studies in the Mahābhārata: Upāyana Parva, 1945, p 11 sqq, Moti Chandra; Geographical Data in the Early Purāṇas: A Critical Study, 1972, p 168, M. R. Singh; India as Known to Pāṇini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashṭādhyāyī, 1953, p 64, Dr Vasudeva Sharana Agrawala - India; A Grammatical Dictionary of Sanskrit (Vedic): 700 Complete Reviews of the ..., 1953, p 62, Dr Vasudeva Sharana Agrawala, Surya Kanta, Jacob Wackernagel, Arthur Anthony Macdonell, Peggy Melcher - India; The Deeds of Harsha: Being a Cultural Study of Bāṇa's Harshacharita, 1969, p 199, Dr Vasudeva Sharana Agrawala.
37. ^ Mahabhasya IV.2.2.
38. ^ Kasika IV.2.132 .
39. ^ Geographical and Economic Studies in the Mahābhārata: Upāyana Parva, 1945, p 18, Moti Chandra; Trade and Trade Routes in Ancient India, 1977, p 94, Moti Chandra - History.
40. ^ It is remarkable to note that in the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute's edition of the Mahabharata the footnote gives the Prakrit forms of Risika as Isi and Isika (See: Mahabharata, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute edition, See foot note for Risika.
41. ^ ^{a b} Sanskrit Epics, 1998, p 200, J. L. Brockington.
42. ^ Trade and Trade Routes in Ancient India, 1977, p 94.
43. ^ Cf: "Strabo refers to the Asioi, who, along with the Tokharoi and the Sakrauoi, conquered Bactria from the Greeks. Perhaps, the Asioi are the per4haps the Rishikas or the Yueh-chis. The process of Arjuna's victory in the north direction shows that the Rishikas resided in Central Asia, as the former had defeated them in the north after defeating the Vahlikas, Kamboja, Daradas, Lohas and the Parama Kambojas. They resided in that region up to the 1st quarter of the 2nd century BC. Thus, it is apparent that epic refers to them in their original home (Central Asia) (Ref:Political Ideas and Institutions in the Mahābhārata, Based on Poona Critical Edition: (based on Poona critical edition), 1975, p 18, Brajdeo Prasad Roy).
44. ^ Journ. Bihar and Orissa, Res. Soc., XVIII, 1, 97 et 99; Cf: Fragments de textes koutchéens, Udānavarga, Udānastotra, Udānālaṁkāra et karmavibhaṅga, publiés et traduits avec un vocabulaire et une introduction sur le "tokharien": Publiés et traduits avec un vocabulaire et un introd. sur le "tokharien" par Sylvain Lévi, 1933, p 6, Sylvain Lévi; Journal asiatique, Item notes: v.222-223 (1933), p 6, Société asiatique (Paris, France), Centre national de la recherche scientifique (France)- Oriental.
45. ^ Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, 1957, p 10, item notes: v.37 1956, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute; For Asi/ASi = Risika, also see: Political and social movements in ancient Panjab (from the Vedic age upto [sic] the Maurya period), 1964, p 96, Buddha Prakash; The Indian Historical Quarterly‎, 1954, p 227, item notes: v.30-31 1954-1955, India.
46. ^ ^{a b} Literary History of Ancient India in Relation to Its Racial and Linguistic Affiliations, 1953, p 183, Chandra Chakraberty.
47. ^ Geographical and Economic Studies in the Mahābhārata: Upāyana Parva, 1945, p 18, Moti Chandra - India.
48. ^ King Asoka and His Inscriptions, 1968, p 96, B. M. Barua, I. N. Topa.
49. ^ India as Known to Pāṇini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashṭādhyāyī, 1953, p 68, Vasudeva Sharana Agrawala.
50. ^ Trade and Trade Routes in Ancient India, 1977, p. 94. Abhinav Publication, New Delhi. See also: Geographical and Economic Studies in the Mahābhārata: Upāyana Parva, 1945, p 18, Moti Chandra - India.
51. ^ : Upāyana Parva, 1945, p 18, Moti Chandra.
52. ^ Kasika IV.2.132
53. ^ Political and social movements in ancient Panjab (from the Vedic age upto [sic] the Maurya period), 1964, p 96, Buddha Prakash.
54. ^ ...the Risikas, who are therefore by implication in Central Asia and possibly to be identified with Asioi referred to by Strabo (2.24)"
55. ^ See also: India as Known to Pāṇini: (a Study of the Cultural Material in the AShtadhyayi)‎, 1953, p 71, V. S. Agrawala.
56. ^ Goeg., XI, 8, 2, Von Gutschmid.
57. ^ Seleucid-Parthian Studies, 1930, p 11; The Greeks in Bactria & India, 1938, p 292, William Woodthorpe Tarn
58. ^ Trade and Trade Routes in Ancient India, 1977, p 94, Moti Chandra; Geographical and Economic Studies in the Mahābhārata: Upāyana Parva, 1945, p 17, Moti Chandra.
59. ^ Proceedings of the British Academy, 1930, p 113, British Academy, Balasundara Gupta; Literary History of Ancient India in Relation to Its Racial and Linguistic Affiliations, 1953, p 148, Chandra Chakraberty - Sanskrit literature.
60. ^ Geographical and Economic Studies in the Mahābhārata: Upāyana Parva, 1945, p 17, Moti Chandra.
61. ^ See also: Trade and Trade Routes in Ancient India, 1977, p 94.
62. ^ See: King Asoka and His Inscriptions, 1968, p 96, B. M. Barua, I. N. Topa
63. ^ Parama Risika of the epic would be Para-Risika (Para-Arsika) i.e further Rishikas, which could easily become Pasika in Prakrit, Pasiani in Iranian form as well as of the classical writings.
64. ^ Trade and Trade Routes in Ancient India, 1977, p xi, Moti Chandra.
65. ^ "The Yüeh-chih Problem Re-examined." Otto Maenchen-Helfen. JAOS, Vol. 65, No. 2 (Apr. – Jun., 1945), p. 80, n. 10.
66. ^ "Nugae Indo-Sericae." John Brough. In: W. B. Henning Memorial Volume. Eds: Mary Boyce and Ilya Gershevitch. London, 1970, pp. 87-88 and nn. 30-36.
67. ^ "Kaniṣka et Ṥātavāhana, deux figures symboliques de l’inde au premier siècle." Sylvain Lévi. JA, (1936). Vol. 228 (Janv.-déc. 1936), pp. 62-121.
68. ^ Nanā on Lion: A Study in Kushāṇa Numismatic Art. (1969), p. 96.The Asiatic Society, Calcutta.
69. ^ "Bactrian Language", p. 345. (undated) N. Sims-Williams. In: Encyclopædia Iranica, pp. 344-349. [3]
70. ^

    Sanskrit

    chandras.tu.ditija.zrestho.loke.taaraa.adhipa.upamah.|

    Candra.varmati vikhiyaatah Kambojanam.nra.dhipah. || 32 ||

    MBH, 1/67/31-32, Gorakhpore edition)

    Translation: "The foremost among the sons of Diti known by the name of Candra and handsome as the lord of the stars himself became on earth noted as Chandravarma, the king of the Kambojas" (The Mahabharata, Book 1, Ch 67, Adi Parva, Kisari Mohan Ganguli, tr.[4]).

71. ^ India and Central Asia, Bengal (Calcutta), 1955, P.C.Bagch.
72. ^ Buddhism in Central Asia, p. 90.
73. ^ The Journal of Central Asian Studies, 2003, p 33,University of Kashmir Centre of Central Asian Studies - Central Asia.
74. ^ Journal of Tamil studies‎, 1985, p 86, 87, International Association of Tamil Research, International Institute of Tamil Studies - History.
75. ^

    Shakanam Pahlavana.n cha Daradanam cha ye nripah./

    Kamboja RishikA ye cha pashchim.anupakashcha ye 15.// (MBH 5/4/15)

    Translation: "These kings of the Shakas, Pahlavas and Daradas, these are Kaamboja-Rishikas and these are in the western riverine area" (Ishwa Misra: IndianCivilzation Forum; JatHistory Forum).

76. ^

    Lohan.ParamaKambojaan.Risikaan.uttaran.api./

    sahitaams.taan.mahaa.raaja.vyajayat.paaka.zaasanih.//

    Rsikesu.tu.samgraamo.babhuuva.atibhayam.karah./

    taarakaa.maya.samkaazah.ParamaRisika.paarthayoh.//

    MBH 2.27.26-27.

77. ^ Rajatrangini 4.164-166.
78. ^ Studies in the Geography of Ancient and Medieval India, 1990, p 195, D.C. Sircar - History; Encyclopaedia Indica: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, 1996, Ch 26, p 528, Shyam Singh Shashi; Purana, Vol V, No 2, July 1963, The Land of Kamboja, p 252, D. C. Sircar.
79. ^ Markendeya Purana, LVII.39.
80. ^ Bengali Ramayana, Kishkindha Kanda, XLI.16; Real Ramayana, Kishkindha Kanda, XLI.19; Cf: Works, 1865, p 167, H. H. Wilson.
81. ^ Mahabharata 8.5.20; MBH 6:9.
82. ^ Kasika IV.2.132
83. ^ Arsikas of Mahabhasya IV.2.2.
84. ^ Brhat Samhita, 16.11ab, Varahamihira; See: Geographical Data in the Early Purāṇas: A Critical Study, 1972, p. 280, M. R. Singh.
85. ^ Markandeya Purana Chapter 58.20-28.
86. ^ The Matsya Puranam, 1917, pp. 50-51, Srisa Chandra Vasu.
87. ^ Epigraphia Indica, VIII, p 60.