Page:The Malavikagnimitra, Tawney (2nd edition, 1891).djvu/21

 southern sea, near which he is said to have been imprisoned by a Yaksha in a mountain together with his whole army. On account of the massacre of the holy men he received the title of Munihata, slayer of hermits.

"This is the only account which we have of his attempt to put down Buddhism. It is at any rate clear from this story that the Buddhists were so powerful at this time that the Brahmans, not being able to overcome them by fair means, made use of their influence over a sovereign of their own religions persuasion to accomplish their object by violent measures. They must have welcomed his assistance all the more gladly, as according to the above account he was evidently in possession of an extensive dominion. It stands to reason that the King could only act in this arbitrary manner in his own dominions, we may therefore conclude that Cakala and Koshtaka were comprised in them. The first appears to have been the furthest limit of his dominions in this direction, because we are told that here he met with opposition. The only objection to the story is, that at this time Eukratides is said to have reigned as far as the Vipaca, but this is removed by supposing that, after the murder of this king, Pushpamitra availed himself of the confusion to which it gave rise and made himself master of Cakala.

"It is evident that, at the time of his greatest prosperity, Pushpamitra ruled the greater part of the