Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c13.s1.8

c13.s1.8

On the other hand, Rhys Davids first put forth the view that the Sakyans were a republican clan;³ this has been challenged in some of its essential aspects. Watters is of the opinion that Kapilavatthu and the surrounding territory were included within the kingdom of Kosala, and that we cannot therefore speak of a Sakya king or kingdom.⁴ Probably, Watters based his view on the authority of some of the passages quoted above, but the evidence is not conclusive. The only ground in support of Watters' view, in Majumdar's opinion, "is the expression *aṇāpavattitthāna* used, with reference to Kosala, by the Śākyas themselves about their territory in the introductory episode of the *Bhaddasāla Jātaka*..."⁵ The full significance of the expression is, however, far from definite. The same *Jātaka* clearly shows that Kapilavatthu was outside the boundaries of the kingdom of Kosala. We are informed that while Viḍūḍabha resolved to destroy the Sakyans, the Buddha set out from Kapilavatthu and sat beneath a tree not far from the city. "Hard by that place, a huge and shady banyan tree stood on the boundary of Viḍūḍabha's realms."⁶ "This clearly proves," says Majumdar, "that the Śākya territory just touched the border, but was outside the jurisdiction of the Kosala kingdom."⁷