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Ajita-māṇava

One of the disciples of Bāvarī who visited the Buddha at the request of their teacher. He was the first to question the Buddha, and the questions asked by him form the Ajita-māṇava Pucchā of the Pārāyana Vagga of the Suttanipāta.¹ At the end of the conversation he became an Arahant with a thousand followers and entered the Order.²

He was the son of a Brahmin of Sāvatthi, price-assessor (aggāsaniya) to the King of Kosala.³

According to the Aṅguttaranikāya Commentary ⁴ he was the nephew of Bāvarī, and the latter particularly asked him to come back to him with news of the interview with the Buddha.⁵

In a previous birth he offered a kapittha-fruit to Vipassī Buddha. He is probably to be identified with the Kapittha-phaladāyaka Thera of the Apadāna.⁶

A verse attributed to Ajita-māṇava is found in the Theragāthā.⁷

The Ajita-pucchā are referred to in the Saṃyuttanikāya,⁸ where they are expounded by the Buddha to Sāriputta.

¹ Sn.197 f. ² SnA.587, but see ThagA, (infra where he is said to have become an Arahant later). ³ ThagA.i.73 f. ⁴ AA.i.184.

⁵ ThagA. loc cit. ⁶ Ap.ii.449. ⁷ Thag.v.20. ⁸ S.ii.47 f.