Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c35.1140

v2.c35.1140

The Sākyans went armed into the battle, but not wishing to kill, they shot their arrows into Viḍūḍabha’s ranks without killing anyone. On this being brought to Viḍūḍabha’s notice, he gave orders that all the Sākyans, with the exception of the followers of the Sākyan Mahānāma, should be slain. The Sākyans stood their ground, some with blades of grass and some with reeds. These were spared, and came to be known as Tiṇasākiyā and Naḷasākiyā respectively.⁴ The others were all killed, even down to the infants. Mahānāma was taken prisoner and went back with Viḍūḍabha, who wished him to share his meal. But Mahānāma said he wished to bathe, and plunged into a lake with the idea of dying rather than eating with a slave-woman’s child. The Nāgas of the lake, however, saved him and took him to the Nāga-world. That same night Viḍūḍabha pitched his camp on the dry bed of the Aciravatī. Some of his men lay on the banks, others on the river-bed. Some of those who lay on the river-bed were not guilty of sin in their past lives, while some who slept on the bank were. Ants appeared on the ground where the sinless ones lay, and they changed their sleeping-places. During the night there was a sudden flood, and Viḍūḍabha and those of his retinue who slept in the river-bed were washed into the sea.⁵