War in Ancient India c12.58

c12.58

*Epigraphic testimony*: Inscription No. 30 of King Virarājēndra Choḷa bears ample and eloquent testimony to this practice in vogue among the South Indian kings in medieval times. King Virarājēndra dispatched a letter to the Chālukya prince through a messenger with an ultimatum for war. Probably this messenger came in the third category of Kauṭalya’s and *Agnipurāṇa’s* classification of envoys. The letter had this preamble: ‘He who does not come to the appointed Kūḍal through fear, shall be no king but a liar and a disgrace in war.’ This was delivered to the messenger who carried it and handed to the Chālukya king. The Chālukya king resented the action of the Choḷa. Though the latter set out for the battle-field, the Chālukya did not turn up even a month after the appointed time but fled in fear.