Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c9.s5.149
Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c9.s5.149
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c9.s5.149
A tradition remembered by both Theravāda and Mahāyāna sources shows that Ajātasattu was not able to subdue the Vajjians, even during the last days of the *Thera* Ānanda’s life. The latter thought, “If I should die here [in the Bamboo grove], King Ajātaśatru and the Vṛjians being on bad terms with each other, the Licchavis of Vaiśālī would not get a portion of [my] relics. If I should pass away in Vaiśālī, they would not relinquish [a portion to Ajātaśatru]. I will pass away in the middle of the Ganges river.”³ And it is in the middle of the Ganges that Ānanda is recorded to have died.