Some Jaina Canonical Sutras c19.9

c19.9

According to Winternitz the Sanskrit translation of the title *Rājapraśnīya* is probably erroneous. Presumably the work originally treated of king Prasenajit of Kośala in whose place Pāyasi was inserted. Winternitz evidently bases his contention on the supposition that the title of the *upāṅga*, *Rāyapasenaijja*, as given in some of the *aṅgas*, is derived from Rājā Pasenaji (Pāli, Pasenadi; Barhut, Pasenaji). But it is difficult to derive grammatically Pasenaijja from Pasenaji. Had it been derived from Pasenaji, the title would have been simply Pasenajja instead of Pasenaijja. The Pāli dialogue definitely proves that the philosophical discussion took place between a thera and the ruler of Setavyā, and king Pasenadi is kept altogether out of the picture, although Pāyasi happened to be a chieftain under him.