Pasenadi

King of Kosala, who befriended the Buddha and discussed the Dharma with him many times.

Life

Power of the Ganges

When Pasenadi came to the throne, Kosala was one of the stronger states in the Ganges basin, with relations with its southern neighbor Magadha that combined marriage alliances with periodic friction. Small states such as Kapilavastu and the Shakya clan, where Buddhism arose, were then within Kosala's sphere of influence.

Seeking the Dharma and Expansion

He visited Gautama Buddha many times to discuss the Dharma, and Buddhist scriptures preserve a number of his dialogues with the Buddha on war, old age, and governing by righteousness, reflecting his strong interest in the new shramana movements. In old age he was deposed by his son Virudhaka and died while fleeing; Buddhist texts record that Virudhaka afterward sent troops to destroy the Shakya clan.

Later Years and Sources

According to Buddhist texts, in his old age he was deposed by his son Virudhaka and died in a foreign land. Such accounts appear mostly in the Pali canon and aim to illustrate Buddhist teachings through the rise and fall of kings; the dates and details of his life as a historical figure depend largely on these didactic religious texts and should be treated with caution.

Legacy

Pasenadi is one of the kings who appear most often in the early Buddhist scriptures; the Pali Samyutta Nikaya contains a whole group of discourses recording his conversations with the Buddha on aging, death, governance, and wealth, offering vivid material on Ganges society in the Buddha's time. His capital, Shravasti, was one of the places where the Buddha stayed longest. According to Buddhist texts, in his old age he was deposed by his son Vidudabha, and not long afterward Kosala was absorbed into Magadha.

Major works & achievements

• Repeatedly sought teachings from the Buddha
• Allied with Magadha through marriage
• Supported the Buddha's sangha at Shravasti

Did you know? In Chinese translations of Buddhist scriptures, "Bosini" is a phonetic rendering of his name, while its translation by meaning is "King Victorious Army."

Key dates

• 545 BCEBecame King of Kosala
• 535 BCEMarried Queen Mallika
• 525 BCEDiscussed the Dharma with the Buddha many times
• 495 BCEBorder war against Magadha
• 480 BCEIn old age, driven into exile when his son usurped the throne