Tribes in Ancient India c50.55

c50.55

There are several more or less fanciful explanations of Bimbisāra’s name. The *Suttanipāta Commentary* relates that he was called Māgadha because he was the lord of the Magadhas. He was the possessor of a large army, hence he was called Seṇiya; and he was called Bimbisāra because his colour was like that of excellent gold.⁷ In Rockhill’s *Life of the Buddha* (p. 16), it is said that Bimbisāra was so called because he was the son of Bimbi, queen of King Mahāpadma of Rājagṛha. Jaina works represent Bimbisāra as a Jain by religion, and sometimes in Jaina tradition his name is coupled with that of Aśoka’s grandson Samprati, as a notable patron of the creed of Mahāvīra.⁸ All the Buddhist books, however, represent him as a devoted patron of the Buddha, and a great benefactor of the Buddhist Order.