Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c9.s5.68

c9.s5.68

Further light on the war comes from the *Bhagavatī Sūtra*.¹ Two battles are said to have been fought, called *Mahāsilākaṇṭaë* and *Rahamusale* respectively. Kūṇiya is said to have gone out to the *Mahāsilākaṇṭaë* battle only after the engagement had commenced and when he had heard that the fortunes of his armies were declining. Ceḍaga, a mighty archer, shot Kūṇiya's ten brothers on ten successive days. His success seemed assured until, on the eleventh day, the god Indra presented Kūṇiya with a great war-engine which struck down the Licchavis with big stones. At the *Rahamusala* battle, Ceḍaga was again defeated in similar circumstances, after Kūṇiya had received a wonderful chariot armed with a great club from Camara, the Indra of the Asuras.