The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s3.t29.1

c6.s3.t29.1

From Vaisâli, Hwen Thsang proceeded to the north-east for 500 *li*, or 83 miles, to *Fo-li-shi*, or *Vriji*, which has already been identified as the territory of the powerful tribe of *Wajji*, or *Vriji*. In the time of Buddha, the *Vrijis* were divided into several clans, as the *Lichhavis*, the *Vaidehis*, the *Tirabhuktis*, and others, whose names are unknown. The exact number of their clans would appear to have been eight, as criminals were arraigned before the *atthakulaka*,* or “eight clans,” which would appear to have been a jury composed of one member from each of the separate divisions of the tribe. Hwen Thsang mentions that the people of the north called them *San-fa-shi*, or *Samvajji*, that is the “United Vajjis,”—and the same name is referred to in the long and interesting account of the people of *Wajji*, which is given by Turnour from the Pali chronicles of Ceylon.† The great monarch *Ajatasatru*, of Magadha, wishing to subdue the “great and powerful” people of Wajji, sent his minister to consult Buddha as to the best means of accomplishing his object. The Raja is informed that so long as the people of Wajji remained “united,” they would be invincible. The Raja, by a stratagem of his minister, in the course of three years, so completely disunited their rulers, one from another, that no two would walk the same road together,” and they were accordingly subdued without making any resistance. According to Turnour, “the union of the Wajjian states consisted of a confederation of chiefs.”‡ The name of Sam-vriji, or the "United Vrijis," was therefore a descriptive title of the whole nation of eight clans, who, as Buddha remarked, were accustomed to hold frequent meetings, to act in concert, and to uphold the ancient Wajjian institutions. No king is mentioned, but the people are stated to have respected and obeyed the orders of their elders.