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 SÜTRA
Ch. If
by ousting the Vaišālian political and economic interests from the field of commerce and trade which were of vital importance to its prosperity. As it wanted to buy commodities which flowed from North Bihar to the port on the Ganges, so it followed a policy of expansion which is evidenced in the construction of a fort by king Kūņika at Pațligrāma against the possible attack of Vaiśāli.
Preparation for war :
According to the description of several Pāli texts' full preparations for a long-drawn war were made by both the states, Magadha and Vaišali to strike a deadly blow at each other for establishing their respective political suzerainty over the northeastern regions of India.
The Mahāvagga' gives an account of the construction of a fort at Pāļaligrāma by Sunidha and Vassakāra, two ministers of king Kūņika with the object of repelling the attack of the Vajjis from this most important strategic position used as a new forward war base of operation.
It is said in the Mahāparinivvāna Suttanta® “The Blessed one was once dwelling in Rājagpha on the hill, called the
Vulture's Peak'. Now at that time Ajātasattu Videhaputta, was desirous of attacking the Vajjians ; and he said to himself, "I will root out these Vajjians, mighty and powerful though they
1 Digha-Nikāya (Mahāparinjvvāna Suttanta), Atthakatha. It is
said in this text that there was a sinall estate of half a yojana of king Ajātšatru near the landing port (ghāfa) of a river where there was another estate of the same area belonging to the Licchavis. There, from a hill a very precious fragrant article (mineral substance) was coming down. The Licchavis of Vaiśāli were active enough to take away the whole quantity of that substance, depriving king Ajātaśatru of it who was slow to move to that place in order to take his share. In the second year of the discovery of that mine also, such thing happened. So Ajātasatru planned to punish the
Licchavis. : The Age of Imperial Unity, p. 24 ; Majjhima-Nikaya, III, 7. 8 S. B. E. XI, pp. 1-5; XVII, 101 ; Gradual Sayings, IV, 11, etc. 4 Mahāvagga Vide P.H.A.J., p. 212, Dr. H C. Ray Chaudhuri. 6 Mahaparinivvāna Suttanta.