Origin of the Terms, Hindu and Hindustan

The following verses are from the book, Indravijaya.

हिन्दुपदेन हिन्दुस्तानपदेन च यदाहुरद्यतनाः । भारतवर्षं तत्खलु नामार्द्धस्यास्य जानीयात् ।
सिन्धुनदोऽयं यद्दिशि तद्दिश्यं भारतं पूर्व्यम् । सिन्धुस्तानपदेन व्यवजहुः सिन्धुपश्चिमगाः ।
अपि पारसीकजातेरस्ति दासतीरनामके ग्रन्थे । पौरस्त्यभारतार्थं हिन्दुपदं सर्वतो पूर्वम् ।
जरथुस्तस्य यदायतमस्त्यस्मिन् पञ्चषष्टितमम् । तत्र व्यासो हिन्दुस्तानादागत उदीरितो भक्त्या ।
व्यासो नाम ब्राह्मण आयातो हिन्दुदेशाद्यः । तत्सदृशो धीमानिह कश्चिन्नास्तीति तस्यार्थः ।
अपि च त्रिषष्टितम आयत उक्तं पुनस्तत्र । व्यासमुनेर्वाह्लीके गमनं गस्तास्पनृपसमये ।
स प्रेत्यभावविषये व्यासात् संवदितुमेव गस्तास्पः । जरथुस्तमाजुहाव च धर्माचार्यं स्वदेशस्थम् ।
गुप्ताश्वापभ्रंश गस्तास्पः क्षितिप इराने । व्यासात् स पुनर्जन्मनि संन्देहं स्वं निराचक्रे ।
गस्तास्पेन तु पृष्टस्तद् व्यवहारानुसारतो व्यासः । हिन्दुस्तानाभिजनं विज्ञापयामास चात्मानम् ।

• Modern usage of 'Hindu' and 'Hindustan': The terms 'Hindu' and 'Hindustan' are used in modern times to refer to the land known as Bharatavarsha.
• Reference to 'Sindhustan': The term 'Sindhustan' was used by those west of the Sindhu (Indus) River to describe the lands east of the river, which is Bharat.
• Persian usage of 'Hindu': In Persian texts, like 'Dasatir,' the term 'Hindu' has always referred to the eastern part of Bharata, the land east of the Sindhu River with reference to them.
• Zoroaster's mention of Vyasa: Zoroaster (the founder of Zoroastrianism) mentioned Vyasa, a Brahmin who came from the land of the Hindus, and praised his wisdom.
• Vyasa's journey to Bahlika: Vyasa's journey to the region of Bahlika (modern-day Balkh) occurred during the reign of King Gustasp in 550 BC.
• Discussion on afterlife: King Gustasp wanted to discuss matters related to the afterlife with Vyasa. Zoroaster called his own religious teacher to engage in the discussion.
• Vyasa clears doubts: King Gustasp secretly communicated with Vyasa, who cleared the king's doubts about reincarnation and revealed his origin from Hindustan.

Knowledge Bank

Who wrote the 18 Puranas?

The 18 prinicial Puranas also called the Mahapuranas were written by Sage Vyasa.

Why is Krishna called Bhagavan?

Bhaga means six qualities:1. Jnana (knowledge). 2. Dharma (righteousness). 3. Vairagya (dispassion). 4. Aiswarya (rulership). 5. Yashas (fame). 6. Shree (abundance of resources). Someone who has bhaga is Bhagavan. Krishna has all these, so he is Bhagavan.