Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c9.s5.123

c9.s5.123

The evidence provided by these gazetteers strengthens the historicity of the Buddhist commentator's story of a disputed port held in common¹¹ and existing as a constant source of friction between the two rival powers.¹² This island might well have produced some "fragrant material.'' At the first opportunity the Vajjis crossed the northern stream, collected whatever valuables there were at the frontier post of Koṭigāma on the island, and made their way back to Vesāli. This infuriated Ajātasattu and he made plans "to root out, destroy, and utterly ruin the Vajjians." Thus, the causes given for the war by the Buddhist commentator are quite plausible in the light of the evidence discussed above.