Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c13.s1.23

c13.s1.23

Whenever the Buddha was at Kapilavatthu or any of the Sakyan towns, he is almost invariably mentioned as "dwelling among the Sakyas at Kapilavatthu", "Cātuma" or "Devadaha," and the instances can be further multiplied.² A dialogue between the Buddha and Ambaṭṭha, who had not been respectfully received by the Sakyan assembly, also indicates that the Sakyas were independent and had their own territory. The Buddha pacifies him saying, "Why a quail, Ambaṭṭha, little hen-bird though she be, can say what she likes in her own nest. And there the Sakyas are at their own home, in Kapilavatthu. It is not fitting for you to take offence at so trifling a thing."³