The Buddhist text which describes the names of 16 (Sixteen) Mahajanapadas is known as:

Correct option is A

The correct answer is: (a) Anguttara Nikaya
Explanation
· The Anguttara Nikaya, a part of the Sutta Pitaka in Buddhist literature, contains a list of the Sixteen Mahajanapadas, which were the major kingdoms and republics during the time of Buddha.
· It records many numerical classifications of teachings, including references to political geography.
· Buddhacharita → A poetic biography of Buddha written by Ashvaghosha.
· Sutta Nipata → A collection of early Buddhist discourses.
· Lalitavistara → A Mahayana Buddhist text describing the life of Buddha, not Mahajanapadas.
Thus, only Anguttara Nikaya contains the list of 16 Mahajanapadas.
Additional Information
· The 16 Mahajanapadas include: Magadha, Kosala, Kuru, Panchala, Avanti, Vatsa, Vajji, Malla, etc.
· They were located in northern and eastern India during the 6th–4th centuries BCE.
· These were the centres of early political, economic, and religious development.