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KINGS AND PHOPLES 135 doms of Kāsī, Aļavi, Kuru and Pancāla aca knowledged the supremacy of Kosala which became very powerful by the conquest of the kingdom of Kāsī. The kingdom of Avanti under Caņdapajjota became so powerful that all the neighbouring states admitted its supre. macy in Western India. The kingdom of Magadha under Bimbisāra extended its supremạoy over the whole of Kajangala along with the kingdom of Anga. In the Mahāparinibbāna Suttanta, king Ajātasattu of Magadhả is represented as saying to himself 'I will uproot the Vajjis'. An oxplanation of this grim determination is given by Buddhaghosa. We are told that Ajātasattu and the Licchavis shared between them a big port on the Ganges. At a certain distance from it, there was a mineral mine the produce of which was to be equally divided, as per agreement between the parties. But the terms of the agreement were violated. by the Licchavis. Ajātasattu, fully conscious of the strength of the Licchavis as gañarājās, did not venture to enforce the terms of the agreemont upon them. According to the Jaina Nirayāvali Sūtra, Ajātasattu presented his two uterine brothers, Halla and Vehalla,, with a noble elephant and a costly necklace. After ascending the throne, he demanded back both the presents. Reluctant to return them, his
