Tribes in Ancient India c32.117

c32.117

As we have seen, the capital cities of Kośala were Śrāvastī (Pāli Sāvatthī) and Sāketa. Many fanciful explanations of the name Sāvatthī have been suggested. For instance, it was said that Sāvatthī was so called because the sage Sāvattha resided there. The author of the Papañcasūdanī holds that everything required by human beings is to be found there: hence it is called Sāvatthī (sabba and atthi).¹ According to the Purāṇas, Śrāvastī is said to have been built by king Śrāvasta, eighth in descent from Vivakṣu, son of Ikṣvāku.²