________________
48 INDIA AS DESCRIBED IN EARLY TEXTS
According to Hiuen Tsang, 'the Uruvelā of yore' extended north and cast 14 or 15 li at least from a point near the base of the Gayāsirşa hill on the other side of the Phalgu. In its southern extension it was outskirted by an extensive jungle tract of Vankahāra janapada (roughly identical with Hazaribagh district)." The way from Gayā to Benares lay through such localities as Aparagayā, Vaśālā, Cundadvola, Lohitavastu, Gandhapura and Sărathipura on the right bank of the Gangos, opposite to the city of Benares.
The earlier capital of Magadha was Rājagaha, also known as Giribbaja. Hiucn Tsang knew it as Kušāgrapura (ku-she-ka-lu-pu-lo), a namo corresponding to Kuśāgrapura, met with in such late works as the Mañjuśrīmülakalpa and Jaina Vividhatūrthakalpa. According to the Mahabhārata, the city abounded in lodhra grass. Besides the five hills, the guhās, kandaras, tapodas, etc., already discussed in connection with Rājagaha, mention also may be made of the Corapapāta, the precipice down which the thieves were thrown, the Sappasondikapabbhāra, the tank called Sumāgadha, Moranivāpa, a feeding ground of the peafowls. The Latthivana (Yaşțivana) was either a bamboo-forest or palm
1 Barua, Gayā and Buddhagaya, i, p. 106. 2 Mahävastu, ü, p. 324f. ; Barua, op. cit., 1, pp. 116.8. 3 Law, Rajāgrhi, p. 1.
