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Bālakaloṇakārāma

A locality near Kosambī.

When the monks of Kosambī started quarrelling, the Buddha left them and went to Bālakaloṇakārāma, where he visited Bhagu and taught him on the virtues of solitude. From there the Buddha proceeded to Pācīnavaṃsadāya.¹ The readings of the texts are uncertain, and it is impossible to say whether a village (gāma) is meant or only a grove (ārāma).

The reading Bālakaloṇakāragāma occurs in the Majjhimanikāya Commentary,² but even here two explanations are given: one to the effect that Bālaka was the name of a village of salt-makers (? loṇakāragāma) belonging to Upāli-gahapati. When the inhabitants of the village came to Upāli with their taxes, he went with them (bālakagāmavāsiniyā …³ parisāya) to see Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta.

The other explanation is that the word “bālakiniyā” in the text is an adjective meaning “composed of fools” (bālavatiyā bālussannāya). The confusion seems, therefore, to have arisen very early. Upāli’s village (of Bālaka), if such a place existed, was probably near Nāḷandā.

¹ Vin.i.350; M.iii.154; DhA.i.47; J.iii.489. ² MA.ii.596.

³ Cp., J.i.246, where mention is made of bālagāmikamanussā who were obviously fools.