“Formerly the whole Planet was known as Bharatavarsa”

Bird's eye view of Kandahar formerly known as Gandhar, Afghanistan

Prabhupada, Los Angeles, May 7, 1973: ..The Caspian, Caspian Sea, that was the place of Kasyapa Muni. Kasyapa. From Kasyapa the Caspian has come. Just like formerly the capital of Afghanistan was known as Gandhar. Now it has become Kandahar.

So by historical references, it will be ascertained that the whole, this planet was known as Bharatavarsa. What is now India is now known Bharatavarsa, but formerly the whole planet was known as Bharatavarsa.

Formerly, this planet was known as Ilavrtavarsa, but since the time of King Bharata, who also, the forefathers of the Pandavas, the planet is called Bharatavarsa. So everywhere there was Vedic culture. The treasures are still available, and the history of the whole world is called Mahabharata.

The same point, Bharata. And Mahabharata means “greater Bharata,” greater. Just like nowadays we say, “greater India,” greater some city, “greater New York,” so this Mahabharata means is history of the greater Bharatavarsa.