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Mahājanapadā

The books frequently mention ¹ the sixteen great countries (Mahājanapada) that existed in the time of the Buddha. They are:

1. Kāsi,
2. Kosala,
3. Aṅga,
4. Magadha,
5. Vajji,
6. Mallā,
7. Cetiya,
8. Vaṃsā,
9. Kuru,
10. Pañcāla,
11. Macchā,
12. Sūrasena,
13. Assaka,
14. Avanti,
15. Gandhāra, and
16. Kamboja.

The first fourteen are included in the Middle Country of India (Majjhimadesa), the two last being in the Northern States (Uttarāpaṭha).

The Jaina Bhagavatī sutta gives a slightly different list: Aṅga, Baṅga, Magadha, Malaya, Mālava, Accha, Vaccha, Kocchaka, Pādha, Lādha, Bajji, Moli, Kāsi, Kosala, Avaha and Sambhuttara (PHAI. p.60).

¹ e.g., A.i.213; iv. 252, 256, 260; a list of twelve is found at D.ii.200, in which the last four are omitted. The Niddesa adds the Kaliṅgas to the sixteen and substitutes Yonā for the Gandhāra (CNid., p.37).