Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c36.1987

v2.c36.1987

Sāketa.—A town in Kosala. It was regarded in the Buddha's time as one of the six great cities of India, the others being Campā, Rājagaha, Sāvatthi, Kosambi and Benares.¹ It was probably the older capital of Kosala, and is mentioned as such in the Nandiyamiga Jātaka.² The Dhammapada Commentary,³ however, states that the city was founded in the Buddha's time by Dhanañjaya, father of Visākhā, when, at the special invitation of Pasenadi, he went from Rājagaha to live in Kosala. On the way to Sāvatthi with Pasenadi, Dhañanjaya pitched his camp for the night, and learning from the king that the site of the camp was in Kosalan territory and seven leagues from Sāvatthi, Dhanañjaya obtained the king's permission to found a city there. And because the site was first inhabited in the evening (sāyam), the city came to be called Sāketa.⁴ The reference is probably to a new settlement established by Dhanañjaya in the old city.