Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 90

Sec. II]
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA
So the Magadhan king, "the symbol of aggressive imperialism stood face to face" with the upholders of republicanism. But ultimately republicanism of the Vrians had to submit to the aggressive imperialism of Magadha which pushed up its frontiers to all directions.
Thus the foreign policy of expansion followed by king Kunika launched this rising state to the career of conquest and self-aggrandizement which went a long way to bring about the political unification of India under the vigorous rulers of the Nandas and the Mauryas in future and only ended with the conclusion of the Kalinga war of the emperor, Aśoka.
Political events -Mahāsilākaṇṭaka Sangrama and Rathamusala Sangrām.
In connection with the results of the participation by soldiers in two great wars viz. Mahāśilākaṇṭaka3 and Rathamusala3, which took place between Videhaputra Kūņika, the king of Magadha and king Cetaka of Vaisali, united together with his allies. nine Mallakis, nine Licchavis, Kasi, Kośula and their eighteen republican chiefs (ganarajas). Two scenes of the Bhs depict a vivid picture of these two terrible wars as known and remembered by Lord Mahāvīra. They throw a welcome light upon the political condition and relation existing among the four states, viz. Magadha, Vaisali, Kasi, and Kośala and give an idea of the nature and form of war during the time of the Master.
One scene relates that king Kūnika, having known the impending Mahasilakanṭaka Sangrama (the war of big stone) with the Vrjjian confederacy, immediately ordered his staff-members
on this ground of the common epithet 'Videhaputta' and identical political activities of both and the relation with the Vajjis, because fresh evidences are coming out to throw light upon this identification of Kinika-Ajātaśatru. The Vinaya Texts of the Mulasarvästiva dins recently discovered, mention Ajāta satru as the son of Cellana (named here Celä). See Age of Imperial Unity, foot note no. 2, p. 20.
1 Potilical History of Ancient India, Dr. H. C. Ray Chaudhuri, p. 189.
* Bhs, 7, 9, 300.
4.8 [b. 7, 9, 300,
9
65
9
Ib, 7, 9, 301.