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SECTION II. REPUBLICS IN THE AGE OF BIMBISĀRA.
It was Rhys Davids who first drew pointed attention to the survival, side by side with the monarchies, of a number of small aristocratic republics in the age of the Buddha and of Bimbisāra. The most important amongst these states were the Vrijians of North Bihār and the Mallas of Kusinārā (Kusinagara) and Pāvā. An account of both these peoples has already been given. Among the smaller republics we find mention of the Sākyas of Kapilavastu, the Koliyas of Devadaha and Rāmagāma, the Bhaggas (Blargas) of Sumsumāra Hill, the Bulis of Allakappa, the Kālāmas of Kesaputta, and the Moriyas of Pipphalivana.
The sākyas were settled in the territory bordered on h the north by the Himālayas, on the east by the river Rohiņi, and on the west and south by the Rāpti. * Their capital, Kapilavastu, stood close to the western bank of the Rohiņi, some eight miles to the west of the famous Lumbinivana, the place of the Buddha's nativity, the site of which is marked by the Rummindei pillar of one of the greatest of his followers. The city is possibly mentioned in the Tirthayātrā section of the Mahābhārata? under the name of Kapilāvața. It was connected by roads with the capitals of the Kosalas and
1 Buddhist India, p. 1. 2 Supra pp. 1188, 126ff.
3 A tributary of the Rāpti (Oldenberg, Budaha, p. 96). Cunningham (AGI, new ed. 476) identifies it with the Kohāna.
4 Rapson Ancient India, p. 161 ; Oldenberg, Buddha, pp. 95-96. 5 AGI. (new) 476.
6 Kapilavastu is sometimes identified with Piprāwā in the north of the Basti district, or Tilaura Kot and neighbouring ruins in the Tarāi about 10 miles to the N.W. of Piprāwā. (Smith, EHI, third ed., p. 159.)
7 III. 84. 31.
