War in Ancient India c12.54

c12.54

A reference to the early Tamil Śangam works shows that ambassadors played a significant part also in the Tamil land. The earliest work extant, the *Tolkāppiyam*,²⁸ refers to the dūtas, and, what is more interesting, the sūtra implies that Brahmans were generally sent on this errand. The *Kural* has a chapter on the qualifications and functions of an ambassador.²⁹ He is a true ambassador who has a commanding personality and pleasing manners, comes of a noble family and is faithful, wise, versed in legal and political literature, and persuasive in speech. He should be unimpeachable in character and rise above all temptations. He should speak out unmindful even of personal safety. A study of the *Silappadikāram* shows that king Senguṭṭuvan had a big establishment of dūtas, the chief of whom were Sañjaya and Nila.³⁰