Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

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STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATÍ SÚTRA [Ch. VIÍI If the identification of Mahāsena with Pradyota of Avanti is accepted, then the evidence of the BHS gives a new turn to the contemporary history that the Avanti ruler was a crowned vassal of Sindhu-Sauvīra.
This fact is corroborated by the other Jaina texts that king Udāyana inflicted a crushing defeat on Pradyota in his own kingdom and branded his forehead with a frontlet legend dāsī pai(husband of slave girl) by marching on Ujjayinī with his ten vassals on the issue of a sandal-wood image of Lord Mahāvīra which was taken away by the Avantī king along with its care-taker, a slave girl named Devadattā from Vitibhaya to Ujjayinž. But on the approach of Pajjusana the Sindhu king set him at liberty by granting him pardon and investing him with a gold plate (sovanna-patta) in order to cover the letters dā82-pai' and restored his former kingdom to him. It is said that from that time the kings were invested with the golden plate."
The other Jaina texts, the Purānas,' and the Buddhist works throw much light upon the life and political career and character of the Avantī king and his relation with SeņiyaBimbisāra of Magadha, Śatānīka and his son, king Udayana of Vatsa, Puskarasārin of Taxila, and Mathura”.
FOURTH SECTION Clans
As already pointed out in the beginning of this chapter that the Bhs makes incidental references to the following Ksatriya clans, viz. Ugras, Bhogas, Rājanyas, Iksvākus, Jaātris, Kauravyas and Ksatriyas.
1 Uttaradhyayana Tika, 18, pp. 253 ff. ; Âvasyaka Cürri, p. 400. 9 16. 3 Avašyaka Cūrni, p. 88 ff. Vide, Life in Ancient India, p. 396. 4 See P.H.A.I. Fifth Ed. p. 204. o S. B. E. XVII, p. 187. (Comm. on Dhammapada, 21, 23.)
Majjhima Nikaya, III. 7. 6 Essay on Guņādhya, 176. 7 Vide, P. H. A. India-Fifth Ed. p. 204. 8 Bhs, 9, 33, 383.