Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c12.925

v1.c12.925

Even in Buddhaghosa’s day the name of the township had two different spellings, and two etymologies are suggested for the names.⁸ The place was called Kammāsadhamma because it was here that the man-eating ogre, Kammāsapāda (q.v.) was tamed and civilised by the Bodhisatta. (Kammāso ettha damito ti, Kammāsadhammam-Kammāso ti Kammāsapādo porisādo vuccati.) The spelling Kammāsadhamma is explained on the ground that the people of the Kuru country had a code of honour called the Kuruvattadhamma; it was here that Kammāsa (already referred to) was converted and made to accept this code, hence the name of the township. (Kururaṭṭhavāsīnaṃ kira kuruvattadhammo, tasmim Kammāso jāto, tasmā taṃ ṭhānaṃ “ Kammāso ettha dhamme jāto” ti Kammāsadhammam ti vuccati.)