[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [The Mauryan Polity](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932) › c13.s2 # The Mauryan Polity c13.s2: 2. Milestones The Mauryan Polity c13.s2 - **Language:** English ### 2. Milestones ### [c13.s2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c13.s2.1) Secondly, the following are the remarks of Megasthenes on the milestones¹: "They (Agoranomen) construct roads, and at every ten stadia set up a pillar to show the bye-roads and distances." In the opinion of Schwanbeck,² the \*schoenus\* which with Eratosthenes coincides with the Indian measurement of distance, \*yojana\*, is a measure of 40 stadia of four \*krośas\*. While we do not meet with the term \*krośa\* as an official measurement in the \*Arthaśāstra\*, the term is not unknown to Aśokan inscriptions. According to the seventh Pillar Edict of Aśoka at intervals of eight \*kos\* the roads were marked by trees and fountains of water.³ Mile-stones might have been used or might not have been used. It may be as Stein suggests that Megasthenes has imported the Persian or Egyptian idea into India.⁴ If this were established it would not detract the value of the \*Arthaśāstra\* which portrays a state of affairs actually obtaining in the land. It, on the other hand, tends to reduce the intrinsic value of Megasthenes' writings on India.⁵ ### [c13.s2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c13.s2.2) ¹ Fr. 34.3. ### [c13.s2.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c13.s2.3) ² P. 48, Cal. ed. ### [c13.s2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c13.s2.4) ³ Fleet, \*J.R.A.S.\*, 1906, p. 401 ff. ### [c13.s2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c13.s2.5) ⁴ \*Op. cit.\*, p. 21; Barnett, \*Ind. Ant.\*, p. 107; and Smith, \*Early History\*, p. 135. ### [c13.s2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c13.s2.6) ⁵ Cp. \*Glories of Magadha\*, p. 61. ## Linked texts (1) - [Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.artha.kautilya) — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c13.s2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c13.s2) · Pramāṇa