Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c23.67

v1.c23.67

It is clear that, in the earlier literature at any rate, the word did not mean the whole country comprised in the modern word Dekkhan. It is possible that Dakkhiṇāpatha was originally the name of the road which led southwards—the Aryan settlement at the end of the road, on the banks of the Godāvarī being also called by the same name—and that later the road lent its name to the whole region through which it passed.⁵ In the Petavatthu Commentary⁶ the Damiḷa country (Damiḷavisaya) is included in the Dakkhiṇāpatha. The Dakkhiṇāpatha is famous in literature as the birthplace of strong bullocks.⁷ It held also a large number of ascetics,⁸ and in the “southern districts” (Dakkhiṇesu janapadesu) people celebrated a feast called Dharaṇa.⁹ See Dharaṇa Sutta.