A king who lived in the beginning of this present age. The Páli
Chronicles (Mhv.ii.1ff.; Dpv.iii.1ff.; MT. 122ff.; also
J.ii.311; iii.454, etc.) mention him as the original ancestor of
the Sákiyan family, to which the Buddha belonged, and gives a
list of the dynasties from his day to the time of the Buddha, to
prove that the line was "unbroken." Mahásammata belonged to the
Solar Race and is identified with the Bodhisatta, who was born
among men after sojourn in the Brahma worlds (MT. 121 f). He was
called Mahásammata, because, on the arising of wickedness in the
world, he was chosen by the people (sannipatitvá samaggajátehi
mahájanchi sammannitvá kato Mahásammato; MT.122; cp. D.iii.92f.;
Mtu.i.248; DhSA. 390, 392) to show indignation against and
disapproval of those worthy of blame. In return for his
services, he was given a portion of their harvest. It is said
(J.iv.192) that in the dynasty of Mahásammata the idea of meting
out punishments, such as torture, fining, expulsion, was
unknown. These were invented