Varetatae

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Varetatae (वरेतती) were ancient race mentioned by Pliny and Megasthenes.

Variants

• Varetatæ = Varetatae (Megasthenes)
• Suarataratæ/Suaratatatae (Pliny.vi.23)

Jat Gotras Namesake

• Vijayrania = Varetatae = Suaratatatae (Pliny.vi.23

History

Alexander Cunningham writes ....In Pliny's account of the different nations to the eastward of the Lower Indus I find the following passage, which would seem to apply to Eder and the surrounding districts. "Next the Nareae, who are bounded [p.496]: by Capitalia, the loftiest mountain of India, on the other side of which the people dig up much gold and silver.

Beyond them are the Oraturae (or Oratae), whose king has only ten elephants, but a large force of infantry, (and) the Varetatae (or Suaratatatae), whose king has no elephants, but a strong force of horse and foot. (Then) the Odombaerae etc. The last nation has already been identified with the people of Kachh, and the high mountain of Capitalia can only be the holy Arbuda, or Mount Abu, which rises to more than 5000 feet above the sea. The Nareae must therefore , be the people of Sarui, or the " country of reeds," as I nar and sar are synonymous terms for a " reed." The country of Sarui is still famous for its reed arrows.

Mention by Pliny

Pliny mentions 'The Indus.'.... next come the Suarataratæ, who live under the rule of a king as well, but breed no elephants, as they depend solely on their horse and foot;

Jat clans mentioned by Megasthenes

Megasthenes also described India's caste system and a number of clans out of these some have been identified with Jat clans by the Jat historians. Megasthenes has mentioned a large number of Jat clans. It seems that the Greeks added 'i' to names which had an 'i' ending. Identified probable Jat clans have been provided with active link within brackets. (See Jat clans mentioned by Megasthenes)

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Jat clans as described by Megasthenes
Location	Jat clans	Information
13. Next again	The Varetatae (Vijayrania)	Subject to a king, who keep no elephants, but trust entirely to their horse and foot

जाट इतिहास

ठाकुर देशराज ने लिखा है.... वरेतती जाति के लिए मेगस्थनीज ने लिखा है कि इनक राजा हाथी नहीं रखता, केवल घोड़े और पैदल सेना रखता है। वरेतती यूनानी शब्द का हिन्दी ‘विजय रणियां’ होता है। खंडेलवाटी में, एक पहाड़ (लढाना) के ऊपर, इनके किले तथा घुड़शाल आदि के चिह्न अब तक पाये जाते हैं।