Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c13.s2.57

c13.s2.57

The *Dīgha Nikāya* is the only Pāli text known to us which helps to explain the derivation of the name of the Sakyas. During a conversation of the Buddha with Ambaṭṭha, the former explains why they are called Sakyas and tells a legend which may be based on historical fact. He says, “Long ago, Ambaṭṭha, king Okkāka [?Ikṣavāku], wanting to divert the succession in favour of the [younger] son of his favourite queen, banished his elder children—Okkāmukha, Karaṇḍa, Hatthinika and Sinipura—from the land. And being thus banished they took up their dwelling on the slopes of the Himālayas, on the borders of a lake where a mighty oak tree [*sāko*, Skt. *śāka*] grew. And through fear of injuring the purity of their line they intermarried with their sisters. Now Okkāka, the king, asked the ministers at his court: ‘Where sirs, are the children now? There is a spot, sire, on the slopes of the Himālayas, on the borders of a lake, where there grows a mighty oak [*sāko*]. There they do dwell. And lest they should injure the purity of their line they have married their own (*sakāhi*) sisters.’ Then did Okkāka the king burst forth in admiration: ‘*Sakyā vata bho kumārā, parama-sakyā vata bho rājakumārā*’”. This Rhys Davids renders as “ ‘Hearts of oak (*sakyā*) are those young fellows! Right well they hold their own (*paramasakyā*)’.”⁴ “ ‘That is the reason, Ambaṭṭha,’ ” the Buddha continued, “ ‘why they are known as Sakyas’ ”.⁵