Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 520

Sec. III]
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
495
Except this brief statement this canonical work does not throw any light upon the life and career of this king and his political achievements.
In this respect other Jaina' and Buddhist works and the Puranas provide a good deal of information regarding the genealogy of the dynasty of Seniya, his private life and reign, and the contemporary history of his time."
It is said in the Ava yaka Curnis that he was born in the Vahiya clan. According to the Puranas Seniya-Bimbisāra belonged to the Saisunaga dynasty, while Dr. D. R. Bhandarkar is of opinion that he was born of the Sisu-Naga dynasty.
But Asvaghosa, the author of the Buddha Caritas connects him with the Haryanka family as its scion, while the Mahavaṁsa® refers to Sisunaga as a founder of a separate line of kings which ruled after that of Seniya-Bimbisāra.
The Vayu-purāna10 states that Sisunaga will take away the glory of the Pradyotas who were contemporaries according to the Jaina and Buddhist works."1
According to this statement Sisunaga must come after the first Pradyota called Canda who was the contemporary king of Avanti of Seniya-Bimbisara and Kūņika-Ajātaśatru, as it is evidenced in the BhS, other Jaina texts and Buddhist works and supported by the ancient Sanskrit poets and dramatists of India.12
1 Avaśyaka Carni, II, p. 165 f. p. 158; Nayadhammakahão, 1; Antagadadasão, 7, p. 43 f.
2 Jataka Nos. 239, 283, 492; Samyutta Nikaya, Books of Kindred sayings 110.
8 Vayu-purana, 99-314. See Dynasties of the Kali Age (Pargiter 68-9) for the Puranic account.
See P.H.A. I. 6th Ed. Dr. H.C. Ray Chaudhury, pp. 205-209. Avasyaka Curni, p. 165. Vide, I. A. I., p. 378.
7 Vide, Age of Imperial Unity, p. 19,
D.K.A., 68-9.
8 Buddha Carita, XI, 2, Asvaghosa.
9 Mahavamsa; Vide, Age of Imperial Unity, p. 19.
10 Vayupurana, 99, 314.
11 Vayupurana, 99, 314.
12 Indian Culture, VI, 411.