Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 97

72
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA (Ch. III himself of this opportunity arisen from this national disruption and disunity of the Licchavis to wage war against them.
But Cetaka, was not unaware and silent spectator these war designs and full scale war-preparations of king Kūņika. It is stated in the Nirayāvaliyā Suttal that on the apprehension of the impending danger of war to be waged by king, Kūņika against Vaiśālī, king Cetaka summoned the assenibly of nine Mallakis, nine Licchavis, rulers of Kāi and ko ala and their eighteen republican chiefs also.
The Majjhima Nikāya” refers to the good relation subsisting between Koala and Vaišāli which was more strengthened by the matrimonial alliances with the kings of Sindhu-Sauvīra, Vatsa and Avanıī who married the daughtersø of king Cetaka respectively.
It appears that a great confederacy was formed by the Liccharis of Vaiśālī, the Mallakis of Pāvā and Kuśīnārā, and the rulers of Kasi and Košala together with their eighteen re. publican chiefs under the leadership of king Ceța ka due to the exigencies of war to offer a combined resistance to their common enemy, the Jagadhan king, Kūņika.
There was probably another genuine cause of political rivalry of Kâ:z-Kośula with Magadh which led them to make an united front of military alliance with Vaišāli and to cement the political relation among them by forming a confederation.
The Buddhist texts refer to the protracted war of Kūņika with the Kokalan king, Prasenadi (Prasenjit), centring round the possession of Kasi which was a bone of contention between the two states.
1 Nirayávaliză Sutra, p. 25. 3 Mijjhima Nikaya, Vol. II, p. 101. 3 HC 235, 236 ; BhS (12,2, 441) tells that queen Mrgāvati of
Kuuśāmbi was the daughter of king Cetaka. 4 The Book of Kindred Sayings I, pp. 109 110 The Sainyutta
Nikāya and the Ilaritamāta, Vuddhaki-Sakara, kummāsapinda, Tachchha Sakara and the Bhaddasāla Jatakas.
Kuršāmbi was indred Sayingsa. Vandraki-Suklatakas.