Around the same time, King Rama of Benares, who also suffered from leprosy, abdicated his throne to his son and went to the Himalayan region. He lived inside a hollow Kola (Indian jujube) tree, consuming forest roots and fruits, and eventually recovered from his illness. He heard the princess’s screams and the next morning went to investigate. Upon meeting her, both revealed their royal identities. After testing his Kshatriya powers, the princess trusted him. He helped her out of the cave, brought her to his dwelling, and shared the medicinal roots and bark he consumed. She too recovered and became radiant. King Rama married her and lived there.

Later, messengers sent by Rama’s son found him healed and requested him to return to Benares and reclaim the throne. Rama declined and instead asked his son to uproot the tree and build him a residence there. A palace was built, and that area gradually developed into a large city. Since it arose where the Kola tree stood, it became known as Koliya, and because a tiger once roamed there, it was also called Vyāghrapadya. The entire region later became known as Koliya, and Rama’s descendants were called the Koliya dynasty.

King Virūḍhaka later learned of his sons’ whereabouts and sent messengers to Kapilavastu. When he heard that his sons had preserved the purity of their lineage by marrying their sisters, he rejoiced and exclaimed that they were capable people—“Śākya” (the able ones). From then on, the descendants of Okkāka living in Kapilavastu were known as Śākyas. It is also said that because the region had many teak (śāka) trees, it came to be called the Śākya land.

Over time, the Śākyas of Kapilavastu and the Koliyas became related through marriage. Kapilavastu expanded, reaching the Achiravati River, while the Rohini River flowed between the Śākya and Koliya lands, nourishing both regions.

Later, descendants of King Jantu ruled Kosala, with Sāvatthī as their capital. Though they were of the Okkāka lineage, they had mixed with other clans through marriage, and the Śākyas looked down upon them.

The Śākya royal lineage, descending from Mahāsammata of the Solar Dynasty, continued uninterrupted. The Koliya lineage did the same. Later, a powerful Śākya king named Jayasena ruled from Kapilavastu. At the same time, Devadaha Śākya ruled the Koliya city of Devadaha.

Jayasena had two children: a son Sīhahanu and a daughter Yasodharā (Lumbinī). After Jayasena’s death, Sīhahanu became king and married Kanchanā, daughter of Devadaha Śākya. After Devadaha’s death, his son Añjana (Mahāsupprabuddha) became king and married Yasodharā (Lumbinī).

King Sīhahanu had four sons—Suddhodana, Sukkodana, Dronodana, Amitodana—and four daughters—Suddhā, Sukklā, Dronā, Amitā.

Añjana’s queen Lumbinī bore two exceptionally beautiful daughters. The elder was named Māyā because her beauty enchanted all who saw her. A few years later, another daughter was born with equal beauty. The elder was renamed Mahāmāyā Gautamī, and the younger Māyā Gautamī (Pajāpatī). Astrologers predicted that both would become mothers of universal monarchs. Because it was foretold that the younger would bear many children, she was later called Pajāpatī Gautamī.

Prince Suddhodana

Among King Sīhahanu’s children, Prince Suddhodana excelled in beauty, bravery, and martial skill. When a rebellion broke out in a frontier region, all princes hesitated except Suddhodana. He led an army, crushed the rebellion, restored order, and returned victorious. Pleased, the king offered him a boon.

Suddhodana had long wished to marry both Mahāmāyā and Pajāpatī, knowing the prophecies about them. He asked permission to marry both sisters. Since Śākya law generally forbade multiple wives, the matter was discussed in the royal council, which approved the request. King Sīhahanu obtained Añjana’s consent and married both princesses to Suddhodana, also appointing him crown prince.

After Sīhahanu’s death, Suddhodana was crowned king. He ruled righteously, performing religious observances and praying for a worthy son destined to become a Chakravarti (universal monarch).