Sambodhi 1984 Vol 13 and 14

Author(s): Dalsukh Malvania, Ramesh S Betai, Yajneshwar S Shastri
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 68

Kasiraja' of Bhasa-In Appraisal
63
(Act-V); Ramayana (1. 32), Mahavagga, Vinaya-Pitaka, Dhamma-Padattrhakathā, kunāla Jataka, Suttanipata Comnicntary etc. makes it pertinent that Brahmadatra as a title of the King of Kasi has also been a title of the Kings of Magadha and that of Vidchu. Quoting from Kunāla Jataka he says that Brahmadatta king of Kasi owing to his having an army, seized the country of Kosala, slow its king and carried off his chief queen to Benaras there and made her his consort.25
Dr. R.S. Tripathi 2, Dr. H. C Raychaudhari7, Pandita Mohan Lal Mehto Viyagi28, Dr. Visuddhananda 29 Pathaka deserve to be quoted here in explaining the points that Ajatasatru after having starved to death Bimbisara, annexed the kingdom of Kasi unto the kin dom of Kosala."
Commenting upon the position of Kasi Dr. V. S. Pathaka 28 remarksKasi formed an integral part of Kosala in the days of Mahakosala the father of Prasenajita in the middle of the sixth century B.C.
The Haritamala and the Vaddhakisükara Jataka state that when he married his daughter Mahakosala to Bimbisūra, the Magadhan King, one of the villages of Kasi yielding a revenue of a hundred thousand was given to that lady as Pin moncy. Prasenajita was able to retain Kusi in his inperial hegemony. The lohiccha Sutta of the Digha Nikaya already speaks of his mastery over Kāśi just in the same way as he was master of Kosala. The administration of Kasi was carried on by one of his uterine brother who was styled as Kasiraja'. Later, however, like Kosala itself (when it declined) Kasi was amalgamated by the new growing imperial power of Magadha. This must have happened after the strong personalities of Prasenajita Vidudabha passed away and their weak successions had failed to retain the glory and greatness of their past.
It obviously makes it clear thar Prasenajita the sovereign lord of Kosala liad his uterine brother styled as Kasiraja- he himself being styled as the lord of Kasi-Kosala confederation. Kasiraja the Uterine brother of Prasenajita enjoyed an autonomous status. 3o Dialating upon the topic of Kogala-Magadha relations Dr. Pathaka has alluded to the tale of Prase. najita vanquishing and putting in bondage Ajätasatru but reconciling immediately to marry his daughter vajira to him with a pin money in the form of Kasi Village, but has refuted the statement of H. C. Ray Chaudhari as under :
It is difficult to believe, it may be noted here, witli H. C. Ray Chau hari that Ajātasatru was able to annex Kasi eitlier fully or even a part of it. What he achieved were the proceeds of the village referred to above. As long as Prasenajita was alive, Ajātasarru was certainly not able to incorporate Kasi in Magudha.31
"Prasenajita's end was tragic. His own son Vidudabla revolted against