Book Title: India As Described In Early Texts Of Buddhism and Jainism
Author(s): Bimla Charn Law
Publisher: Bimlacharan Law

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Page 129
________________ 121 KINGS AND PROPLES Jarasandha, the most powerful king of Magadha, is introduced as the son and successor of Bphadratha. His powerful ally was the Cedi king Siśupāla, both of whom were defeated and killed by the Pāņdava brothers. Nothing of this historical legend can be traced in the early Jain or Buddhist texts. On the other hand, in the Jaina Uttarādhyayana Sūtra (xviii, 43), we have mention of Jaya, son and successor of king Samuddavijaya of Rājagaha, as the eleventh Cakkavatti of the Bhāratavarşa: Arindama, Duyyodhana, and a few other ancient kings of Magadha are mentioned by name in the Jātakas. During the period preceding the advent of Mahăvira and the Buddha, the notable event in the history of Magadha was the prolonged contest for supremacy between the Magadhan monarchs and the kings of Anga with varying results. It ultimately ended, however, in permanent annexation of Aäga to Magadha. The Videhas, who represented in the Buddha's time as one of the important clans constituting the Vajjian or Licchavi confederacy, were a people who originally migrated from the eastern continent of Videha and founded a territory named Videha aftər them on the left bank of the Ganges. According to the Satapatha Brāhmana (I. IV, 1 etc.), the country of Videha owes its name to its first king, Videgha Māthava, who came from the Sarasvati region. This

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