Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 87

THİRD CHAPTER
Political conditions as reflected in the BhS.
FIRST SECTION
Political Disunity It appears from the Bhs that there was no politioal unity of India under one paramount power during the period of Lord Mahāvira. Then India (Bhāratavarsa) was divided into a large number of independent monarchical and non-monarchical states, as this political condition is reflected in the list of sixteen great states (Solasa Mahājana padas)' mentioned in the Bhs.
They are as follows :- Anga, Magadha, Malaya, Mālavaka, Accha (Riksa)), Vaccha (Vatsa), Koocha (Kaccha= Kautsa), Padha (Pāndya), Lādha (Rādha = West Bengal), Vajja (Vajji=Videha), Moli (Malla= Pāvā and Kuśīnārā), Kāść, Košala, Avāha (not yet correctly identified), and Sunbhuttara (Sumhottara)".
At the beginning of the 6th century B. C. the same political condition is reflected in the Buddhist Anguttara Nikāya in which the following sixteen great states (Solasa Mahājanapadas)* of considerable extent and power are mentioned, viz. Kāsī, Kosala, Anga, Magadha, Vajji (Vriji), Malla, Cetiya (Cedi), Varsa (Vatsa), Kuru, Paficāla, Maccha (Matsya = Jaipur), Sīrasena (Mathurā), Assaka (Aśmaka), Avantž, Gandhāra and Kamboja.
1 Bhs, 15. 1, 554 (Fifteenth Sataka First Uddeśaka). See also
Uvāsagadasão, Appendix II, Dr. Hoernle; refer also to Die
Kosmographie Der Inder', 225, W. Kirfel. . Sumbhuttara is identified with the modern districts of
Midnapore and Bāůkurā in West Bengal. See Märkandeya
Purāna, p. 357. 9 P. T. S. 1. 213; IV, 252, 256, 260. The Mahāvastrı (1. 34)
presents a similar list but drops Gandhāra and Kamboja and puts Sibi and Daśärna in their places in the Pan jab (or Rajputänä) and Central India respectively. The Jana-Vasabha. Suttanta gives a less complete list of these sixteen great Janapadas,