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ASSAKA
148 chief disciples of Śākyamuni, through whose agency Buddhism gained ground in the Mathurā region. The name of the king suggests relationship with the royal house of Avanti. A king named Kuvinda is mentioned in the Kāvya-Mimāṁsā. The Šīrasenas continued to be a notable people down to the time of Megasthenes. But at that time they must have formed an integral part of the Maurya Empire.
Assaka '(Aśmaka) was situated on the banks of the Godāvari. Its capital, Potali, Potana or Podanas is possibly to be identified with Bodhan in the Nizam's dominions. This accords with its position between Mūlaka (district round Paithān) and Kalingao to which Pāli texts bear witness. In the Sona-Nanda Jataka we find Assaka associated with Avanti. This may suggest that Assaka included at that time Mülaka and some neighbouring districts and thus its territory approached the southern frontier of Avanti.”
In the Vayu Purānaø Aśmaka and Mīlaka appear as scions of the Ikshvāku family, and the Mahābhārata speaks of the royal sage Aśmaka (Ašmako nama rājarshi) as having founded the city of Podana. This probably indicates that the Aśmaka and Mīlaka kingdoms were believed to have been founded by Ikshvāku chiefs, just
1 3rd ed. p,50. He prohibited the use of harsh conjunct consonants. 2 Sutta Nipāta, 977.
3 Chulla-Kalinga Jataka, No. 301 ; D. 2. 235; Law, Heaven and Hell in Buddhist Perspective, 74 ; Mbh. I. 177. 47. As pointed out by Dr. Sukthankar the older mss. give the name as Potana or Podana and not Paudanya. This agrees with the evidence of the Mahāgovinda Suttanta (Assakānancha Potanam) and the Pariśishta parvan (1.921-nagare Potanābhidhe. 4 Sutta Nikata, 977 ; Jataka no. 301.
. 5 Cf. Bhandarkar, Carm. Lec. 1918. pp. 53-54. It appears from the Mahāgovinda Suttanta that at one time Avanti extended southwards as far as the Narmadā valley and included the city of Māhishmati which stood on the banks of the famous river.
6 88, 177-178; Müh. I. 177. 47.
