Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c13.s1.1

c13.s1.1

Malalasekera is of the opinion that "in the sixth century B.C. the Sakyan territory of Kapilavatthu was subject to Kosala,"³ because the *Sutta Nipāta* speaks of the Buddha's birthplace as belonging to the Kosalans.⁴ In the *Aṅguttara Nikāya* also, Kapilavatthu is mentioned as being in Kosala.⁵ In the *Majjhima Nikāya* Pasenadi is reported to have said, "the Lord is a noble like me, a Kosalan like me, eighty years old like me; and this in itself prompts me to pay such respect to the Lord and show him marks of affection."⁶ Apart from these references quoted by Malalasekera to support his view, we find some more passages to the same effect. At one place the Buddha himself says, "King Pasenadi of Kosala is aware that the Samana Gotama has gone forth from the adjacent [*anantarā*] clan of the Sakyas. Now the Sakyas have become the vassals of king Pasenadi. They render him homage and respectful salutation, they rise and do him obeisance and treat him with ceremony. Now just as the Sakyas treat King Pasenadi of Kosala, so does the king treat the Tathāgata."¹ In the *Bhaddasāla Jātaka*, the Sakyas, upon receipt of the message of King Pasenadi asking them for a Sakyan princess in marriage, gathered together and deliberated: "We live in a place subject to the authority [*aṇāpavattitthāna*] of the king of Kosala; if we refuse a daughter, he will take offence; and if we give her, the custom of our clan will be broken. What are we to do?"²