Public Administration in Ancient India c17.2

c17.2

Some of the more powerful monarchs, besides maintaining friendly relations with the rulers of the other parts of India, kept up friendly intercourse with the kings of countries outside India. Seleukos Nikator, for instance, sent Megasthenes as ambassador to the Court of Chandragupta, and Deimachos and Dionysios were attached to the Court of Bindusāra Amitraghāta as ambassadors from Antiochus Soter, King of Syria, and Ptolemy Philadelphos, King of Egypt. Asoka’s edicts show that that great monarch maintained friendly relations not only with Ceylon¹ and other neighbouring countries, but also with many kings of distant countries, such as Antiochos Theos of Syria, Ptolemy Philadelphos of Egypt, Antigonos Gonatas of Macedon, Magas of Cyrene, and Alexander II. of Epirus. The names of ambassadors mentioned above are, as Prof. Rapson points out, “no doubt typical of a class.” It is in every way probable that constant relations were maintained between India and the west during the period of the Maurya Empire.¹ Kings of other parts of India also, besides Magadha, kept up more or less frequent communications with foreign kings. We know that so late as the seventh century A.D., Pulakesi, King of Mahārāshtra, had friendly relations with Khosrū Parwīz, King of Persia, and Harshavardhana of Thānesvar maintained diplomatic relations with China.