State and Government in Ancient India c21.19

c21.19

The twelve kings mentioned above were regarded as constituting the *maṇḍala* of kings. A monarch was advised to be watchful about their motives and movements in order to secure peace and safety for his dominion and if possible, its expansion, by a system of judicious alliances. The emphasis laid upon proper alliance brings to our mind the development in the contemporary world politics since the second world war, when each of the two blocks is seeking to strengthen its position by roping as many states as possible within its own sphere of influence.