Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c13.s3.4

c13.s3.4

The *Kuṇāla Jātaka* informs us of a quarrel about the waters of the river Rohiṇi, which both the Sakyas and the Koliyas needed for the irrigation of their crops.² "But other teachers tell the story thus," continues the same text. "When the female slaves of the Sākiyas and the Koliyas came to the river to fetch water, and throwing the coils of cloth that they carried on their heads upon the ground, were seated and pleasantly conversing, a certain woman took another's cloth, thinking it was her own; and then owing to this a quarrel arose, each claiming the coil of the cloth as hers. Gradually, the people of the two cities, the serfs and the labourers, the attendants, landholders or headmen, councillors and viceroys, all of them sallied forth ready for battle."³ The *Jātaka* preamble concludes: "But the former version found in many commentaries and being plausible is to be accepted rather than the other".⁴ We agree with the *Jātaka* writer as the quarrel over the coil of cloth seems too petty a reason for a serious feud like this. The quarrel was, however, mitigated by the appearrance of the Buddha on the scene.