Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

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Sec. V]
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
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It is already known from the second section of the third chapter that the war between Magadha and Vaiśāli continued for more than sixteen years.
The Avašyaka-Cūrņil provides informations that the city of Vaiśāli was besieged by king Kūņika for a long period.
It appears that strategy and diplomacy also played a great part in the warfare of that time.
It is learnt from the Buddhist work that Vassakāra, the prime minister of king Kūņika-Ajātasatru, was entrusted with the secret mission of sowing seeds of dissension among the Vaišālians. His diplomatic effort was crowned with success after three years, when the unity of those people was totally lost due to their mutual distrust and quarrelling caused by his machination and the king of Magadha dealt a deadly blow at Vaišālī.'
The Avakyaka Cūrņis also furnishes the evidences that the hermit Kulavālaya was charged by king Kūņika-Ajātaśatru with the task to cause the citizens of Vaisāli to demolish the mound erected by this state for its defence so that he might win an easy victory over king Cetaka.
The evidences provided by the BhS and the Āvašyaka Cūrni show that fort (Dugga)" was constructed by the belligerent powers for the defensive and offensive warfare of that time.
Arms Victory in war depends to a considerable extent on the effective latest weapons and their proper use by well-trained soldiers.
The terms Āyudha and Praharana'' occuring in the BhS denote non-throwing and throwing weapons respectively.
The Bhs provides a list of various kinds of arms used in the two devastating wars Mahāśilālantaka and Rathamusala and
1 Âvašyaka Carni-II. p. 173.
Dighanikaya (Mahā parinirvāna Suttanta). • Avasyaka Cirni--11. p. 174. * BIS, 3, 2, 141. 35 I6,7,9, 300,
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