Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c20.44

v1.c20.44

The books spells the name of the village in two ways: Ñātika and Nādika. This doubt as to the spelling seems to have existed from quite early times, as the apparent confusion of the etymology leads us to believe. In the Saṃyutta Commentary,¹⁰ Buddhaghosa says “Ñātiketi dvinnam ñātakānaṃ gāme.” In the Dīgha Commentary,¹¹ however, he says “Nādikā ti etaṃ taḷākaṃ nissāya dvinnam cullapitu-mahāpitupuṭṭānaṃ dve gāmā. Nādike ti ekasmim ñātigāme.” These explanations seem to support both spellings—Ñātika and Nādika—Ñātika because it was a “ñātigāma” and Nādika because it was near the pond Nādikā.¹² Rhys Davids¹³ thinks that Nādikā (pl.) was a clan-name and Nādika the name of the clan’s village. Woodward¹⁴ also supports the reading Nādika, and suggests that the name is connected with nadī, and refers to Walters’ Chwang (ii. 86), where reference is made to Ñātaka on the Ganges between Vesāli and Patna.