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 SŪTRA
[Ch. III
independently side by side during the time of Lord Mahāvīra with their respective political autonomy by following a policy of expansion.
The most important factor in the political condition of this period was the quadrangular struggle' among these four states for establishing their respective political suzerainty over North-Eastern India by their aggressive imperialism under their respective ambitious rulers.
The military power of the Vriji confederation was growing in the north to a considerable extent under the leadership of king Cetaka of Vaiśālī, united together with his allies, nine Mallakis, nine Licchavis, Kāsi, Kośala and their eighteen republican chiefs (ganarājas). On the other side the aggressive monarchy of Magadha under its ambitious ruler, Vidchuputra king Kūņika (Ajātaśatru)s was following a policy of expansion and self-aggrandizement from his base at Rājagrha.
1_Bhs, 7, 9, 300, 301. 8 'Videhaputta Kuniye' of the Bhs was also named as
Asogavanacanda or Asogacanda after the name of the garden, Asogavaniya where he was throwni immediately after his birth. (ivasyaka C'ūrni II, p. 166). According to Ovaiya (6, p. 20), Kinika was thrown on a dung-hill outside the city where his little finger was wounded by the tail of a cock. Thus he was named Kūgika. It is stated in the Nirayāvaliyā sūtra that Kūņika was the son of queen Cellanā, the daughter of king Cetaka of Vaisali, which was a part of Videha. So this epithet Videhaputta' was attributed to him. The Buddhist Nikayas also attribute this epithet to Ajātaśatru. Buddhaghost however resolves "Vedehi into Veda-iha. Vedanā ihati or intellectual effort (i.e, the son of an accomplished princess)." (The commentary on the Digha Nikāya I, p. 139), (BKS, Vol. I, 1091). See foot note No 3 of P.H.A.I., Dr. HC. Ray Chaudhuri Jatakıt, Nos. 239, 283, 492. According to the evidences of Thusa Jataka (338) and the Musikre sātaka (373) Kośaladevi (t e Kosalan princess) was the mother of Ajātastru who is called the nephew of king Pasenadi of košala in the Samyukta Nikūya (Book of Kindred Sayings 110). But Maddā (Madrā) is, however, mentioned as the mother of Ajātasatru in Vol. I of the Book of the Kindred Sayings (p. 380), while a "Tibetan writer calls her Vasavi (DPPN. 1. 34). Now the Jain tradition and the Nikäyas agree in attributing the epithet .Videbapatta' to Kūņika-Ajātasatru. So one may identify Kūņika of the Jain texts with Ajāta satru
vedanarincess, vol van