बृहत्संहिता: प्रथम भाग (आचार्य वराहमिहिर - विमला हिन्दी व्याख्या, पं. अच्युतानन्द झा)

?
Let's count:
मा (1)
र्ग (2)
रा? Wait! Is that 'रा'?
Let's look closely:
It's NOT two letters, it is:
मा - र्ग - [wait, what is that letter?]
Wait! Is it 'रा'?
Letter 'र' has a curved top and a diagonal leg: र.
Does it look like 'र'?
Wait, look at 'रा' in 'कापिलवनितास्य':
No, in 'वनितास्य', there is no 'र'.
Look at 'रा' in 'गान्धारादर्श' (line 33): 'रा' has the body of 'र' plus the vertical stroke for 'aa'.
Now look at line 27:
After 'मा', there is 'र्ग' (rga).
Then there is 'रा' (raa)!
Wait, does 'र्ग' have an aa matra?
No, 'र्ग' has no aa matra, it's just 'र्ग'.
Then 'रा' (raa)!
Wait, is it "मार्गरानर्ताः"?
Wait, why would it be मार्गरानर्ताः?
Wait, what are the names of peoples in the South-West/West?
In Brihat Samhita: "मार्गराद्याश्च"!!
YES! Look:
"वणिङ्मुखा मार्गराद्याश्च" in Brihat Samhita 14.21!
The people are