Pre-Buddhist India: A Political, Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey of Ancient India Based Mainly on the Jataka Stories c3.s2.t1.35

c3.s2.t1.35

One more point to be noticed in connection with Dhanañjaya Koravya. In the Dhūmakārī Jātaka¹⁰ he is represented as showing favour to new comers (āgantukānam yeva saṃgahaṃ akāsi) neglecting the old and faithful soldiers (porāṇakayodhe agaṇetvā). This policy was responsible for his defeat in a battle in a disturbed frontier province. He came to realize his mistake with the help of his wise councillor Vidhura. How far this incident can be taken as historical, we are not able to ascertain, it being left uncorroborated, as far as we know, by further evidence.