Sambodhi 1984 Vol 13 and 14

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

Page 69

Sudarshan Kumar Sharma
him and usurped the throne of Kosala. Ajataśatru thinking of attacking Viduḍabha was prevented by his ministers from doing so. "32,
64
The entire dissertation of Dr. Pathaka makes it apparent that Ajatasatru was not the "Kasiraja" and the Uterine brother of Prasenajita was the Kasiraja' proper holding autonomy in his domains. Bhasa in his SVD has referred to Brahmadatta connected with the nagara named Kampilya identical with modern Kampil on the old Ganges between Budaon and Farrukhabad. N. L. Dey has identified it as a town at a distance of 28 miles North-East of Fathgad in the district of Farrukhabad (UP). It is only five miles distant from the railway station of Karimganj (B. B. C. I Railway), 33 It obviously denotes a region contiguous to Kasi at least not far away from it (Käsi being situated on the left bank of Ganges or on the north bank of Ganges 80 miles below (Allahabad), 84 Brahmadatta of Kampilya was most probably the Brahmadatta of Kasi whose name proper could be Sanjaya of Malatimadhava of Bhavabhūti and not the Asmakes varasunuḥ of VVD. Kasiraja alluded to in PRY aspiring the hand of Vasavadatta disowned owing to the success of the ruse of the tusker enticing alive Udayana, was certainly the Kasiraja of Avimaraka married subsequently to Sudarsana mother of Visnusena (Avimaraka) and Jayavarma, sister of Sucetana, wife of Sauvirarāja and a sister of Kuntibhoja, king of Vairaniya, a son of Duryodhana, Kuntibhoja's two daughters were married to Avimaraka and Jayavarma. Avimäraka was the real son of Sudarsana and Kasiraja, but Sanjaya was given to Sucetana on the death of her own newly born child. He was, therefore, the adopted son of Sauviraja and hence was the Sauviraraja in the making. Jayavarma was the heir-apparent to the throne of Kasśirāja and has been styled Kasiraja by Bhasa in Avimaraka. In PRY Bhasa has referred to Kasiraja' as the special guest of honour for Mahasena for whose daughter Vasavadatta the kings of Magadha, Anga or Vanga, Mithila, Sürasena, Surastra had also sent their couriers. Udayana's courier did not come. Udayana was Vatsaraja having Kausambi for his capital (30 miles from Allahabad as Kosam). Hence Bhasa has distinctly mentioned the kings of Magadha, Anga or Vanga, Saurastra, Surasena, Mithila along with Kasiraja as autonomous suzerains in their respective domains. In SVD he has referred to Darsaka as Magadharaja' whose strong military alliance was essential to create a Schism in the Samgha of Aruni who had usurped the regions of Vatsa Janapada. Bimbisära held the honorific title of Srenika, "35 Ajatasatru as that of Kunika and Viduḍābha son of Bimbisara bore the notorious title of Aruni "dāruṇa Karmadakṣa" (SVD Act V-13) we can easily presume Kasiraja Sanjaya as a contemporary of Udayana, Mahasena, Gopalaka, Palaka, Pauranic