Which of the following ancient tribal republics (Janapadas) is mentioned in the Mahabharata and Panini's Ashtadhyayi as having occupied the territory of the upper Beas and Sutlej valleys in present-day Himachal Pradesh?

💡 Solution & Explanation

The Audumbaras were an ancient tribal republic that flourished in the region covering modern Pathankot, Kangra, and the hilly tracts between the Beas and Sutlej rivers in Himachal Pradesh, as verified by their distinctive copper and silver coins bearing punch-marked symbols and Kharosthi legends. Other groups like the Yaudheyas inhabited regions further south in the Punjab and Rajasthan plains rather than the higher Himalayan valleys. Numismatic evidence from this region reveals important details about ancient trade routes and tribal governance structures.