History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c16.s1.5

c16.s1.5

Although Dr. Barua has tried to make a historical figure of Daḍhapaïnna,³ the later rebirths as described in the *Bhagavatī* seem to be of no value for the reconstruction of the story of the Ājīvikas. But it is possible that some significance is to be found in the account of Mahāpaüma, which seems to contain a veiled attack on a king who was a patron of the Ājīvikas and an opponent of the Jainas. If the king in question is not concealed by a false name the only historical figure whom the sovereign described in the *Bhagavatī* can represent is Mahāpadma Nanda. This conclusion has been tentatively accepted by Barua.¹