Kambojas in Indian Literature - The Brhat Samhita of Varahamihira

The Brhat Samhita of Varahamihira

The Brhat Samhita is a 6th century Sanskrit encyclopedia by Varahamihira (505 AD–587 AD), dealing with wide ranging subjects of human interest, including astrology, planetary movements, eclipses, rainfall, clouds, architecture, growth of crops, manufacture of perfume, matrimony, domestic relations, gems, pearls, rituals and geography of ancient India. While referring to numerous tribes and people of ancient India, Brhat Samhita makes repeated reference to Kambojas and sheds appropriate light on their geographical location as well as their economical and political state during that period.

In chapter eleven of Brhat Samhita, Kamboja is bracketed with Kuru (of Kurukshetra) and Kashmira where the kings of Kambojas, Kurus and Kashmira are mentioned. In chapter thirteen of Brhat Samhita, the Kambojas are bracketed with the Sakas, Yavanas, Daradas, Parata etc. In chapter five, the Kambojas are grouped with the Cinas, Yavanas, Bahlikas, Sindhu, Paundrakas and the Kiratas etc. . At another place of chapter five, the Kambojas are again bracketed with Kashmiras, Cinas, Yavanas, Gandharas etc. In verse 35 of chapter five of the same text, Varahamihira associates the Kambojas with the Pancalas, Kalingas, Surasenas, Odras, Kiratas etc and refers to them as all as Shastra^varttah Nations i.e Nations living by agriculture, cattle-culture, trade and wielding weapons.

From the references quoted above, it becomes amply clear that Varahamihira in these verses is referring to the Kamboja branch located in Uttarapatha i.e adjoining Gandharas, Kashmiras, Cinas, Pragjyotisha as well as Bahlikas.

But a most interesting observation about the Kambojas is made in verse 17 (chapter fourteen) of Brhat Samhita where Varahamihira attests another branch (off-shoot) of the Kambojas, associates them with the Pahlavas, Yavanas, Sindhu-Sauviras, Aravas, Ambasthas, Anartas (Kaithiawaris), Surastra, Badara, Dravidah and attests them all living in south-western parts ('nairrtyam dizi') of India .

Thus one can easily note that Varahamihira is attesting TWO separate settlements of the Kambojas viz: (1) one traditional branch of the Kambojas living in the Uttarapatha (northern-eastern parts of Afghanistan and north-west frontiers of Pakistan) whom he brackets with Cinas, Kashmiras, Bahlikas and Gandharas; and (2) the second branch of Kambojas living in Nairrtyam dizi i.e. south-west parts of ancient India whom he associates with the Anartas, Saurashtras, Sindhu-Sauviras and the Dravidas etc. That the second branch of the Kambojas was living in south-west parts of India is also amply attested from several other ancient Sanskrit texts (See Link: Migration of Kambojas: Migration of Kambojas#The Kambojas in West.2FSouthwest India.). This evidence signifies that around or little prior to Christian era, a section of the Kambojas, Pahlavas, Yavanas, Sakas etc. had migrated to south-western India in the wake of Scythian invasion of India and had established their respective principalities in western/south-western parts of India in post-Christian times.