Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c7.s1.2

c7.s1.2

According to Jain tradition, Usabha was the first king who ruled over Ikkhāgabhūmi, the first capital of India. Before that there was no kingdom or king, punishment or punisher. It was a state when all people without exception pursued the path of *dharma* and conducted themselves towards one another in righteous manner. But in course of time, the people violated the laws laid by the *Kulakaras*, and yielded to all sorts of unhealthy feelings. At this time people approached Nābhi, the father of Usabha and the latter was anointed on the throne. It was Usabha who taught people for the first time various arts and crafts and promulgated the system of punishment by confinement of a criminal to a particular area (*maṇḍalabandha*).¹