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TRIBES IN ANCIENT INDIA
In the north, the Kośala country bordered on the region occupied by the Sākyas, and there were mutual jealousies between the two peoples, often developing into war. When Pasenadi was at the height of his power, the Sākyas became his vassals, and he received homage from them. The story of how Pasenadi acquired a sākyan bride (Mallikā, a Vāsabhakhattiyā) has been related in our sākya chapter. Pasenadi had a great admiration for the Buddha, and many stories are told of his dealings with the Buddha and his disciples. The king became the Buddha's disciple after meeting him | at Jetavana.”
Pasenadi was famous for his charity. While Buddha was residing at Srāvasti in the ārāma of Anāthapiņdika at Jetavana, the king made gifts for a week on an immense scale. These gifts were known as asadisadāna (incomparable charity).3 The king of Košala provided Kunda-Dhāna with all necessaries when the latter left the world after hearing the Buddha preach.4 A great preaching hall (Saddhamma Mahāsālā) was built by Pasenadi for the Buddha. On another occasion, Pasenadi performed a great sacrifice in which 500 bulls, 500 calves, 500 goats, and other animals were offered. Buddha, when requested to attend, expressed his disapproval of this sacrifice, as he was against the taking of life by slaughter.5
After the death of his wife, Mallikā, Pasenadi went to the Buddha at Jetavana, and He consoled him in his grief.6 Pasenadi was also consoled by the Buddha when his grandmother died.?
The Buddhist texts contain many stories about eminent men and women of Kośala, and many of these are in some way associated with Paşenadi. For instance, Mallikā, queen of Pasenadi, built an ārāma at the Kośala capital, Srāvastī, known as Mallikārāma, where the teacher Potthapāda went to live. 8 The Dīgha Nikāya tells us that Pokkharasādi, a famous Brāhman teacher of Kośala, enjoyed some property given to him by Pasenadi. The king did not allow him to enter his presence, but used to consult him behind a screen. Buddhaghosa also furnishes some details about this sage. Pokkharasāti or Pokkharasādi, says he, was a Brāhmaṇa, living at Ukkatthanagara, which had been given him by the king of Kośala, Pasenadi, as Brahmadeyya (i.e. as a Brahmin's fee). He was well versed in the Vedas and in the arts, and the king bestowed Ukkatthanagara upon him because he was satisfied by a display
1 Digha Nikāya, II, p. 83.
2 Samyutta Nikāya, I, pp. 68–70. 3 Pithavimāna, Vimānavatthu Comm., pp. 5-6. 4 Psalms of the Brethren, pp. 19-20.
5 Samyutta Nikaya, I, p. 76. 6 Aignattara Nikaya, III, p. 57.
7 Samyutta Nikāya, I, P. 97. 8 Dīgha Nikāya, I, pp. 178ff.
9 Ibid., I, p. 103.
