Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c13.s2.52

c13.s2.52

It is probably derived from the Sanskrit root *śak* (*śaknoti*, rarely *śakyati* or *śakyate*), meaning “to be able,” “worthy,” “possible,” or “practicable.”¹³ It appears that in Sanskrit both *Śākya* and *Śakya* are correct. We have taken Pāli *Sakya* (Sanskrit *Śākya*), which figures most frequently in the earlier texts, as the standard form. Rhys Davids, on phonological grounds accepts the name as *Sākiya*.¹ However, this form only occurs twice in the *Dīgha Nikāya*,² though it is most common in the *Jātakas*.³