Historical Geography of Ancient India c6.719

c6.719

Verañja.—Verañja was a place near Madhurā (Mathurā) which was visited by the Buddha at the invitation of some Verañja Brahmins.⁵ The Buddha once stopped on the way leading to Verañja from Madhurā and delivered a discourse to a householder.⁶ Once Buddha accompanied by monks stayed at Verañja when a famine broke out. The monks could not procure food for them, but they were afterwards helped by some horse-dealers.⁷ A Verañja Brahmin questioned the Master why he did not show respects to the aged Brāhmaṇas. The Buddha gave him a suitable reply with the result that the Brahmin was converted to Buddhism.⁸ The Master spent the rainy season at Verañja.⁹ At the end of the rainy season he left it and reached Benaras (Vinaya, III, 11).