Consider the following statements regarding the historical documentation of the sixteen Mahajanapadas:
1. The Buddhist text Anguttara Nikaya provides the standard list that includes northwestern states like Gandhara and Kamboja.
2. The Jaina text Bhagavati Sutra contains an alternative list that substitutes several names, reflecting a geographical orientation centered more toward the east and south.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Accepted Answer

Both statements track accurate textual records. While the Anguttara Nikaya list is universally utilized in history due to its clear geopolitical alignment, the Jaina Bhagavati Sutra provides an independent validation. The Jaina text omits far western names like Gandhara but includes Malaya, Anga, and Banga, proving that regional perspectives and commercial routes influenced how the geopolitical map was recorded.

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