The books mention the sixteen Mahājanapadas or Great Nations, which existed in the time of the Buddha. AN.i.213 AN.iv.252 AN.iv.256 AN.iv.260 They are Kāsī, Kosala, Aṅga, Māgadha, Vajji, Mallā, Cetiya, Vaṃsa, Kuru, Pañcāla, Macchā, Sūrasena, Assaka, Avantī, Gandhāra and Kamboja. The first fourteen are included in the Majjhimadesa, the two last being in Uttarāpatha.

Twelve countries are mentioned in the Dīgha Nikāya, DN.ii.200 in which the last four are omitted.

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