Tribes in Ancient India c50.254

c50.254

The *Mahābhārata* describes Girivraja or Rājagṛha, the capital of Jarāsandha, as a city which had a teeming population and was noted for hot springs (*tapodas*). Jinaprabha-sūri tells us that it contained 36,000 houses of merchants, half of which belonged to the Buddhists, while the other half belonged to the Jainas, shown forth in the middle as a row of magnificent buildings.⁶ Buddhaghosa too mentions Rājagaha as a city, the inner and outer areas of which contained each nine crores of people. The city had 32 gates and 64 posterns.⁷ According to the Chinese pilgrims’ accounts, high mountains surrounded it on every side and formed its external ramparts, as it were. On the west it could be approached through a narrow pass, while on the north there was a passage through the mountains. The town was extended (i.e. broad) from east to west, and narrow from north to south. It was about 150 *li* in circuit. The remaining foundations of the wall of the inner city were about 30 *li* in circuit. Kaṇika trees with fragrant bright golden blossoms were on all the paths, and these made the woods in late spring all golden-coloured.⁸