State and Government in Ancient India c3: Preface to the Third Edition

State and Government in Ancient India c3

Language: English

Preface to the Third Edition

c3.1

The work has been carefully revised and also enlarged when its third edition was prepared. Apart from the minor additions, made almost in all chapters, new sections have been added in Chap. XVI on North Indian Administration in the post-Harsha period and South Indian Administration in the first millenium of the Christian era. The problem of the date of the *Śukranīti* has been now discussed in detail in Chap. I and the contribution of some medieval works like the *Mānasollāsa* has been indicated. The question of the influence of religious and philosophical thought on the Ancient Indian Polity has been briefly discussed in Chap. III. The chapter on the kingship now discusses in clear-cut sections the position and status of the king in the early (i.e. before 500 B.C.) and later periods. Asoka's innovations in the administration are clearly brought out in Chap. XV.

c3.2

It is hoped that in its third edition, the *State and Government in Ancient India* will be found to be as useful and comprehensive a work as a book of 400 pages can possibly become. The numerous footnotes giving original passages and others giving references to original sources will be found to be very useful by students who desire to pursue their studies further in the field. It is hoped that the general reader, the student and the research worker will all find the work authoritative comprehensive and stimulating.

c3.3

PATNA, 1.7.1958

Linked texts (1)

Mānasollāsa (Abhilaṣitārthacintāmaṇi) — Someśvara III, Sanskrit