Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 344

Sec. V] STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SOTRA
319 by taking along with them the Indian monks to these countries on their great missions.
It appears from the references to 'Sirghādagatiyacaukkacaccara' (junctions of three, four and many roads)', 'paha' (road)", and Pahakara' (road-maker or road or traffic officer)', that there was a regular system of developed city traffic and well-constructed roads organized and maintained by the state during its period.
It is further evidenced by the fact that whenever Lord Mahāvīra appeared in any city, streams of people of that city flowed to him through its streets to attend his religious discourses and they talked about him and his holy teachings, standing at the crrossings of different roads.
Then the members of the rich and aristocratic and royal families went to the Master, driving in bullock-cartsó or in horsechariots' or in a royal procession consisting of cavalry, elephants, chariots and infantry? to listen to his sermons as it is found in the cases of Rşabhadatta a rich Brāhmana of Brāhmanakunda. grāma, the prince Jamāli or Ksatriyakundagrāma, queen Mrgāvati and the princess Jayanti and king Udayana of Kausāmbi, and king Udāyana of Sindhu-Sauvīra who made pilgrimage to him at different Caityas.
These evidences clearly suggest that there was an organized city-traffic system run by every state of those days.
Besides these facts, the events of the two great wars, viz. Mahāśilākantakasangrāmul and Rathamusala-sangrāna', as already discussed in the third chapter on 'political conditions', further support the above evidences that the movements of the army consisting of cavalry, elephant, chariot and infantry to the battle field from the respective war bases of Magadha and Vaiśālī were made along some routes at that period.
1,7 Bh8, 9, 33, 385 ; 11, 9,418. 4 Ib, 11, 9, 418. 5 1b, 9, 3, 380 ; 12, 2, 442. ? 1b, 9, 33, 385 ; 13, 6, 491. 8 Ib, 7, 9, 300.
$ 10, 9, 3, 383.
Ib, 9, 33, 384. • 16, 7, 9, 301.