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ASMAKA
89.
ancient capital of Kalinga was Dantapura-nagara. The Mahābhārata mentions Rājapura as the metropolis. The Mahāvastu 3 refers to another city named Simhapura. The Jaina writers mention a fourth town called Kamchanapura.4
The Mahāgovinda Suttanta refers to another southern realm, namely, Assaka. or Aśmaka on the God(b)āvari, which existed in the time of the monarchs Reņu and Dhata-rattha (Dhrita-rāshtra). It was ruled by king Brahmadatta who held his Court at Potana.
The Aitareya Brāhmana alludes 6 to princes of the south who are called Bhojas and whose subjects are called
1 Cf. Ep. Ind ; XIV, p. 361, Danta-pura-vāsakāt ; Dantakūra, Mbh., V, 48, 76. Dandagula (Pliny, M'Crindle, Megasthenes and Arrian, 1926, p. 144). The name of the city probably survives in that of the fort of Dantavaktra near Chicacole in the Gañjām district. Many other Kalinga capitals stood in the same district, e, g., Simhapura (Singupuram) near Chicacole, Dubreuil, A. H. D., p. 94, Kalinga-nagara (Mukhalingam on the Vamsadharā, Ep. Ind., IV. 187; Kalingapātam is preferred in Ind. Ant., 1887, 132; J BORS, 1929, pp. 623 f. But the arguments adduced are not all plausible).
2 XII. 4. 3. 3 Senart's edition, p 432.
4 Ind. Ant., 1891. p. 375. The Bhumikhanda of the Padmapurāna (47.9) mentions Śrīpura as a city in Kalinga.
5 Sutta Nipāta, 977, SBE, X, pt, ii, 184. Cf. Asmagi (Bomb. Gas. I. 1. p. 532; Megasthenes and Arrian, 1926, 145) of classical writers. Aśmaka is also mentioned by Pāņini, IV. I. 173. As the name signifies the stony region", it can hardly refer to Aśvaka, the land of the Assakenoi in the north-west, which the Cambridge History of India, vol. I, connects with the Sanskrit aśva, and Iranian aspa, horse. The Commentator Bhattasvāmin identifies Aśmaka with Mahārāshtra. The capital was Potali or Potana (Chullakālinga Jātaka No. 301 , Assaka J. (207); D. 2. 235; Pariśishța parvan, I. 92. nagare Potanābhidhe. Bomb Gaz. I. 1. 535; Law, Heaven and Hell in Buddhist Perspective, 74; Mbh. 1. 177. 47; cf. Padana of Lüders' List, 616, and N. G. Majumder's List, 658 (Monuments, p. 365-Visākhasa Padā(in)yasa). Dr. Sukthankar points out that the Paudanya of the printed editions of the Mahābhārata is a late corruption. The older Mss. give the name as Potana or Podana. This name reminds one of Bodhan in the Nizam's dominions which-ties to the south of the confluence of the Manjirā and the Godāvari. The city of Podana is said to have been founded by a prince of the Ikshvāku family, who is the eponymous hero of the land of Aśmaka. The neighbouring people of Mülaka also claimed Ikshvāku descent (Vāyu, 88. 177-178).
6 VIII. 14. O, P. 90-12
