4 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. | January, 1906. 
Not only in the astronomical works, but also in such other 
works as the great Sanskrit epic Mahabharata and the Jataka 
section of the Pali Pitakas we meet with a prominent mention of 
Romaka. It is not exactly known when the Mahabharata and the 
Jataka were respectively compiled. The orthodox Hindus look 
tions of it to the lst century A.D. when Romaka or Romans were 
well known in India. The Pali Jataka is stated to have existed 
at the time of Asoka, and the Pitakas of which it forms a part 
are said to have been rehearsed in the 1st Buddhist Council in 
India in 543 B.C. ea to this statement, it would appear 
that Romaka or Rome was known in India in the 6th century 
B.C. But this Soeufesicie *ooke appear to an as improbable as 
there is no other strong evidence to show that Rome was known 
to the people of India at so early a date. er we may suppose 
that the Romaka Jataka in which the name Romaka occurs might 
have been compiled at a considerably late date, In the Maha- 
vamsa, Chapter XXXIII., we find that the Pali Pitakas which had 
been learnt by Prince Mahinda, son of Emperor Asoka, for three 
century A.D. This sis dae would be po - he ac- 
count of Pliny, according to whom the communication o 
*B 
® 
we can fairly presume that the name 
maka w 
Mahabharata i in wake Ist century A.D., ough it is not altogether 
improbable that the name had been frisateesd even much earlier. 
I shall now briefly refer to the connection in which the name 
occurs in the Sanskrit and Pali works mentioned above. 
In the Pali Pitaka, Romaka is mentioned, as I aa meets said, in 
the Romaka Jataka' which describes a sham ascetic who, while 
inasmuch as he former would under no aiaciaitatista kill any 
living creatu 
The Wahkbhaccia’ mentions the Romaka or Romans im 
! Romaka Jataka, Jataka Volume IT., No. 277, edited by V. Fausboll. 
* Wat ara wera aratfeaeg: aaNars | 
Stata aaa waar Taner | Ue | 
