Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

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Sec. II] STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA be, I will destroy these Vajjians, I will bring these Vajjians to utter ruin".
"So he spake to the Brāhmaṇa, Vassakāra, the prime minister of Magadha and said ; come now, Brāhmana, do you go to the Blessed one and tell him that Ajātasattu has resolved “I will root out these Vaijians, etc." "Vassakāra hearkened to the words of the king saying 'Be it as you say',” (and delivered the message even as the king had commended.
Although Lord Buddha was unattached to all worldly affairs, he felt much for the Licchavi Republic of Vaisāli, a great centre of his religious activities, as a champion of republican interests. He thought it his duty to assure the Licchavis that they could not be conquered by the powerful king like Ajātaśatru, provided they maintained their national unity, solidarity and efficiency by "holding full and frequent assemblies, maintaining internal concord in assembly and administration, avoiding revolutionary laws and measures, following old traditions, honouring the elders of the community, old institutions and shrines, saints and women?".
Kūņika fully realised that it was impossible for him to conquer the Licchavis in a straight fight without disrupting and destroying the strength of their inner unity. So he charged his prime minister, Vassakāra with the secret mission to sow the seeds of dissensions and disunion among the Vaisālians.9 This mission was crowned with success after three years. Infected by the poison of hatred and jealousy spread by Vassakāra among them, the Liochavis of Vaiśālā lost their social and national unity, solidarity and efficiency. King Kūņika-availed
1 Mahāparinivvāna Suttanta---(S. B. E. of the Buddha Vol. III -
Dialogues of the Buddha, part II. (translated by Rhys
Davids-- Chapter 1). ? Mohaparinivvāna Suttanta -XV-4. : Althakatha : See, P. H. A. I., p 214, Dr. H. C. Raychaudhuri “Diplomacy (upatapana) and disunion (mithubheda). DPPN. II, 846; J.R.A.S. 1931, cf. Gradual Sayings IV. 12. “The Dajjians cannot be overcome in battle, but only by cunning, by breaking up their alliance."