Which one of the following is NOT listed as one of the sixteen mahajana- padas in the pre-Mauryan period ?

The pre-Mauryan period, specifically around the 6th century BCE, is characterized by the emergence of sixteen major territorial states known as Mahajanapadas. These states are documented in early Buddhist texts like the Anguttara Nikaya and Jaina texts like the Bhagavati Sutra. The standard list of sixteen Mahajanapadas includes Kuru, Vatsa, and Gandhara [1]. Specifically, Kuru was located in the Indo-Gangetic plain, Vatsa (or Vamsa) had its capital at Kausambi, and Gandhara was situated in the northwest. While Kalinga was a significant region in ancient India, it is not included in the traditional list of the sixteen Mahajanapadas mentioned in the Anguttara Nikaya. Kalinga gained historical prominence later, particularly during the Mauryan period due to its conquest by Ashoka.

Sources

1. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahajanapadas