Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c14.267

v1.c14.267

**2. Gandhāra.**—One of the sixteen **Mahājanapadas**.¹ Its capital was **Takkasilā**, famous for its university; its king in the time of the Buddha was **Pukkusāti**. There was friendly intercourse between him and **Bimbisāra** of Magadha. Merchants and visitors from one country to another were lodged and fed at the expense of the country's king, and no tariffs were levied on their merchandise. There was constant exchange of goods and valuables, and on one occasion Bimbisāra, wishing to send his friend a gift of particular value, despatched to him a letter containing news of the appearance in the world of the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Saṅgha. When Pukkusāti read the letter he decided to become a follower of the Buddha, and ordained himself as a monk; then, leaving his kingdom, he travelled all the way to Sāvatthi to see the Buddha.² This conversion of Gandhāra's king, however, does not seem to have had the effect of converting the rest of its people to the Buddha's faith. The memory of Pukkusāti was evidently soon forgotten, for we find Moggaliputta Tissa, at the conclusion of the Third Council, sending the thera Majjhantika to convert Gandhāra.³