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 BHAGAWATI SÕTRA
[Cb. VIII
Peukalaos, Proclais of Ptolemy' etc. The first of these names is probably derived from the Prāksta 'Pakkhalavadi' occurring in the legend of a piece of gold-coin of the Indo-Scythic period in Kharosthi "Pakkhalavadi devatā" (the deity of Pakhalavati or Puskalāvatî)”. It is Pu-se-ke-la-fa-ti of Hiuen Tsang, the Chinese transliteration of Puskalāvatī or Puşkarāvatī, the Skt. form of the name of the city founded by Puskara, the son of Bharata. It corresponds to the modern villages of Carasādà and Prag in Hastanagar group in the Peshawar district (N. W. P.)".
The above discussion shows that the Pulkhalis of the BhS were the people of Puşkalāvati region. Bahalis (Vāhlikas)
The Bahalīs of the BhS may be identical with the Vāhlikas, the people of Bactria (modern Balkh in Afganistan). The Vählikas are mentioned in the Meharauli Iron pillar Inscription of king Candra where it is recorded thus, "Tīrtvā saptamukhāni yena samare Sindhor-jitā Vählikāḥ.”
This epigraphic evidence shows that they inhabited a region beyond the river Indus by crossing which king Candra inflicted a defeat on them.
According to the Avaíyaka Cūrnis, Takkhasilā was the capital of the Bahali country which was given to Bahubali by Rşabhadeva before his renunciation of the world.
The literary and numismatico evidences show that the Vāhlikas (Bactrian Greeks) established their rule in the NorthWest India under the leadership of Demetrius in the second
1 Ptolemy's Ancient India, p. 115. 8 Indo.Scythic coins, Gardener. 8 Wattars on Yuan Chwang, 1, 214; Vide C. A. 1. p. 105. 4 See Visnu Purana, (Wilson's edition, Vol. V. Ch. 4). • C. A. G. I., p. 105. & Bhs (Comm.), 9, 33, 380. 7 Meharauli Iron Pillar Inscription of king Candra. 8 Âvas yaka-Cūrni, ś. p. 180 9 Turn's Greeks in Bactria and India ; Patañjali Mahābhāsya
(Indian Antiquary, 1872, p. 300). 10 Indo-Greek coins,