Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c12.3034

v1.c12.3034

2. Kevatta.—Chaplain of Cūḷani-Brahmadatta, king of Uttarapañcāla. He was wise and learned and clever in device; the king followed his counsel and conquered all the territories of India except that of King Videha in Mithilā.¹ When at last Brahmadatta laid siege to Mithilā, Kevatta was responsible for the details of the siege, but his plans were upset by Mahosadha, who, though his junior in age, was far wiser. At one stage of the struggle Kevatta suggested that a trial of intellect be arranged between him and Mahosadha, the result of the conquest to decide the victory of Brahmadatta or Videha. The challenge was accepted, but Mahosadha, by a ruse, made Kevatta appear as though paying obeisance to him and rubbed Kevatta's head in the dust, bruising it. After the return, in disgrace, of Brahmadatta to Uttarapañcāla, Kevatta meditated revenge through the instrumentality of Pañcāla-caṇḍī. Kevatta visited Mithilā with a proposal that Videha should go to Uttarapañcāla and marry Pañcālacaṇḍī. During this visit, Kevatta went to visit Mahosadha, but the latter, guessing that the whole thing was a plot to kill Videha, refused to see Kevatta and caused him to be ill-treated.² Kevatta was everywhere defeated in his schemes by Mahosadha.³