The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c19.s4.28

v1.c19.s4.28

In the opening paragraph of the *Mahā-parinibbāna Suttanta*¹⁰ we hear of Ajātasattu's intention to attack the Vajjian confederacy, and, as the first step in the attack, of his building a fortress at Pāṭaliputta, the modern Patna, on the south bank of the Ganges, the then boundary between his territory and theirs. The minister in charge of this work was a Brāhman, known to us only by his official title, ‘the Rain-maker’ (Vassakāra). He fled suddenly to the Vajjian capital Vesālī, giving out that he had barely escaped with his life from Ajātasattu. The Vajjians gave him refuge and hospitality. He then dwelt among them, carefully disseminating lies and slanders until he judged the unity of the confederation to be finally broken. Three years after his kindly reception he gave the hint to his master, who swooped down on Vesālī, and destroyed it, and treated his relatives very much as Viḍūḍabha had treated his. We can only hope this ghastly story of dishonour, treachery, and slaughter is a fairy-tale. The question can only be discussed with profit when we have the whole of the commentary before us.