Magadha,又作摩訶陀,摩竭提,摩伽陀。中印度國名,王舍城所在。譯言持甘露,善勝,無惱,無害等。或為星名。或為古仙人或帝釋前身之名。仁王經吉藏疏一曰:「摩訶陀者,名持甘露處。」西域記七曰:「摩竭陀國,舊曰摩伽陀,又曰摩竭提,皆訛也。」玄應音義一曰:「摩竭提,或云摩竭陀,亦言默偈陀,又作摩伽陀,皆梵音訛轉也。正言摩揭陀,此譯云善勝國,或云無惱害國。一說云:摩伽星名,此言不惡,主十二月。陀者處也,名為不惡處國,亦名星處國也。揭音渠謁反。」同二十一曰:「摩揭陀,舊云摩伽陀,或言摩竭陀,又作摩竭提,皆梵音轉耳。摩伽此云露,陀此云處,名甘露處國。上古諸天與阿修羅鑽海水甘露,安置此國,故以名焉。又摩竭陀,是人名。往昔有人,於此修功德得生天上,逐本為名,亦言善勝國,又名星處國也。」慧苑音義上曰:「摩竭提者,或云摩伽陀,或云摩揭陀,或云墨竭陀,此之多名由依八轉聲勢呼名致異,然其意義大略不殊。或有釋云:摩者不也,竭提至也,其國將謀兵勇,鄰敵不侵至也。又有云:摩徧也,竭提聰慧也,言聰慧之人徧其國內也。又有云:摩大也,竭提體也,謂五印度中此國最大,統攝諸國,故名大體也。釋云:摩無也,竭提害也,此國法不行刑戮,有其犯死罪者送置寒林耳。」法華玄贊二曰:「帝釋,過去字憍尸迦,此云璽兒,名阿摩揭陀。此云無毒害,即摩揭陀國過去帝釋修因之處,用為國名。彼國古名致甘露處,即劫初帝釋與阿修羅戰,以山為鑽,鑽乳海得甘露,致於此國,因以為名焉。」梵語雜名曰:「摩誐娜尾沙野。」
Magadha, also 摩竭提; 摩揭陀; 摩伽陀; 摩訶陀 'A kingdom in Central India, the headquarters of ancient Buddhism up to A.D. 400; the holy land of all Buddhists, covered with vihāras and therefore called Bahar, the southern portion of which corresponds to ancient Magadha.' Eitel. Aṛṣiafter whom the country of Southern Behar is said to be called. Name of a previous incarnation of Indra; and of the asterism Maghā 摩伽.
應云摩伽陀亦云摩偈 譯者曰國名也