Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c32.360

v2.c32.360

In the Assalāyana Sutta,⁶ Yona and Kamboja are mentioned as places in which there were only two classes of people, masters and slaves, and the master could become a slave or vice versa. The Commentary⁷ explains this by saying that supposing a brahmin goes there and dies, his children might consort with slaves, in which case their children would be slaves. In later times, the name Yavanā or Yonā seems to have included all westerners living in India and especially those of Arabian origin.⁸ Yonaka statues, holding lamps, were among the decorations used by the Sākyans of Kapilavatthu.⁹ The language of the Yavanas is classed with the Milakkhabhāsā.¹⁰ The Aṅguttara Commentary¹¹ records that from the time of Kassapa Buddha the Yonakas went about clad in white robes, because of the memory of the religion which was once prevalent there.