An epithet constantly used in connection with Ajātasattu.

Buddhaghosa explains it* by saying that Videhī here means a wise woman and not the Videha lady, because Ajātasattu's mother was the daughter, not of a king of Videha, but of a Kosala king. (E.g., J.iii.121; iv.342; she was called Kosaladevī   e.g., J.ii.403).

* Vedehiputto ti, vedehīti panditā dhivacanam etam; pandititthiyā putto ti attho (SA.i.120); cf. DA.i.139.

According to the Nirayāvalī Sūtra, (Jacobi, Jaina Sutras, SBE.xxii. Introd., p.xiii) there was, among the wives of Bimbisāra, Callanā, daughter of Cetaka, a rājā of Vaisāli, whose sister Trisālā was the mother of Mahāvīra. She was also called Srībhadrā.

According to the Tibetan Dulvā (Rockhill: Life of the Buddha, 63f), Ajatasattu's mother was Vāsavī, daughter of Simha of Vaisāli. It was foretold that Vāsavī's son would kill his father.

Cf. Vedehikā, Vedehamuni.


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