War in Ancient India c11.t1.23

c11.t1.23

Some aspects of neutrality are implied by this term āsana. This opens the discussion on neutrality in general. Wheaton has remarked: “According to the laws of war, observed even by the most civilised nations of antiquity, the right of one nation to remain at peace, while other neighbouring nations were engaged in war, was not admitted to exist.”⁵⁵ Surely, the political theorist had not in mind the principles of ancient Indian polity, however it may be true of ancient Greece and Rome.⁵⁶ According to Henry Wheaton, a State was either an ally or an enemy. There was no intermediate relation. But a careful study of the working of the Hindu circle of States reveals a number of intermediary relationships. Both the terms, Madhyama and Udāsīna, of which mention has been made, corresponded to what we to-day understand by the neutral king. The Udāsīna’s territory was the neutral zone, and here prevailed the laws of peace in actual practice.