The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c19.s9.272

v1.c19.s9.272

Another route south-west from Sāvatthī to Patiṭṭhāna⁴, with six chief halting places, is given in the Sutta Nipāta, verses 1011–13⁵. From east to west, traffic, as we have seen, was largely by river, boats going up the Ganges to Sahajāti⁶, and up the Jumna to Kosambī⁷. Further westward the journey would again be overland to Sind, whence came large imports in horses and asses⁸, and to Sovīra⁹ and its ports. Northward lay the great trade route connecting India with Central and Western Asia, by way of Taxila in Gandhāra (Pāli *Takkasilā*), near Rāwalpindi¹⁰, and presumably also of Sāgala in the Punjab. This great road and its southern connexions with the leading cities of the Ganges valley¹¹ must have been, even in early Buddhistic days, relatively immune from dangers. Instances abound in the Jātakas of the sons of nobles and Brāhmans faring¹², unattended and unarmed¹³, to Takkasilā to be educated at this famous seat of Brāhmanical and other learning¹⁴.