India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c8.s9.7

c8.s9.7

EKAŚĀLIKA—The word *eka-śālika*, or its optional form *aikaśālika*, was of some practical importance. Pāṇini derives it as *eka-śālā iva*, 'that which is like one (man's) building' (V.3.109). It did not mean the owner of a single house, but it denoted a dwelling-place, which in respect of its use was reserved as one man's building, *i.e.* not intended for public use. The Tinduka-vana of queen Mallikā, wife of king Prasenjit, in the vicinity of Śrāvastī (*Dīgha Nikāya*, I. p. 278) was formerly *eka-sālaka* used as her own pleasance or for her guests. Such a residence was called *rājāgāraka* (Brahmajāla Sutta). Subsequently this park-house was thrown open to the Buddhist community (*bahū sālā katā*; *Sumaṅgala-Vilāsinī*, II. p. 365). It was a matter of some consequence in the social life of that period whether a park-residence of some rich man was of the nature of *ekaśālika*, i.e. reserved for personal use, or was thrown open for public use. We know from the story of Anāthapiṇḍika how he converted the garden of Prince Jeta which used to be *eka-śālika* (i.e. reserved for his own use) into a public residence for the use of the entire Buddhist Saṁgha.