Text of Confucianism Part 02

SR No.: 007676
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: James Legge
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1882
Total Pages: 2405
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 43 MB

Page 640

146
MAHÂVAGGA.
VII, 1, 1.
SEVENTH KHANDHAKA.
(THE KATHINA CEREMONIES.)
1. Now at that time the Blessed One was staying at Sâvatthi, in the Getavana, Anathapindika's Grove. And at that time about thirty Påtheyyaka Bhikkhus?,
* Buddhaghosa says, 'Pâtheyya (the Berlin MS. reads Paveyya) is the name of a kingdom situated to the west of the Kosala country. This passage refers to Bhikkhus who dwelt there. The Bhattavaggiya Theras (so the Berlin MS.; query Satta-vaggiya), who were brothers of the Kosala king, sons of the same father, are here alluded to.'
But with which of the many kingdoms to the west of the Kosala country' are we to identify Patheyya? The word does not occur in the stock list, found in different parts of the Pâli Pisakas, of the sixteen Maha-ganapada ; that is to say, Anga, Magadha, Kasi, Kosala, Vaggi, Malla, Ketiya, Vamsa, Kuru, Pañkâla, Makkha, Sūrasena, Assaka, Avanti, Gandhâra, Kamboga. The account of the Council at Vesali gives us a hint as to the right answer to the above question; for the Thera Sambhàta, who took part in that Council, is called a Påtheyyaka in Kullavagga XII, 2, 7, and is also said at Kullavagga XII, 1, 8 to have lived Ahogange Pabbate. The position of this hill is further described in the Mahavamsa as being on the upper Ganges—uddhagangâya .... Ahogangamhi pabbate (p. 39, ed. Turnour). Then again in Kullavagga XII, 1, 7 the Thera Yasa, when wishing to put himself in communication with the Bhikkhus in Påtheyya and in other places, goes to Kosambi as the most convenient meeting-place for Bhikkhus coming from the East. The other places mentioned in that passage in juxta-position with Patheyya would seem to show that Patheyya, with Pâkîna, Avanti, and Dakkhinapatha, is one of the principal divisions into which India, as then known, was divided; and that it includes most, if not all, of the great westerly kingdoms of
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