Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c35.2112

v2.c35.2112

At the time of the Buddha, Vesāli was a very large city, rich and prosperous, crowded with people and with abundant food. There were seven thousand seven hundred and seven pleasure grounds and an equal number of lotus ponds. Its courtezan, Ambapālī, was famous for her beauty, and helped in large measure in making the city prosperous.¹⁵ The city had three walls, each one *gāvuta* away from the other, and at three places in the walls were gates with watch-towers.¹⁶ Outside the town, leading uninterruptedly to the Himālaya, was the Mahāvana¹⁷ (*q.v.*), a large, natural forest. Near by were other forests, such as Gosiṅgalasāla.¹⁸