ho.du denotes the territorial starting point in the extent stated from India to Cush.

The term is used as a proper place name in statements that mark an imperial span from this location to Cush.

1. Place marking an imperial extent · dominant

   In Esther 1:1, the proper noun occurs in the statement that Ahasuerus reigned from this place as far as Cush. In Esther 8:9, the same proper-noun use marks the provinces addressed by the letter as extending from this place to Cush; the APB renders the geographic span "from India to Cush."

   Esther 1:1Esther 8:9

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB presents the place name as "India" in both statements of extent, including "from India to Cush" in Esther 8:9. The verse is read as a whole, but both verses place it at the beginning of the stated span.