War in Ancient India c12.7

c12.7

Thus it is seen that the institution of ambassadors is a very ancient one. The *Mānavadharmaśāstra*⁵ mentions the qualifications of this important official. He should belong to a noble family, be intelligent, honest, industrious and versed in all sciences, and possess the faculty of reading others' thoughts and feelings from their appearance and behaviour. He must also have an attractive personality and be dexterous, loyal, courageous and capable of discerning things in their true spirit according to time and place; and above all, he must possess a good voice and fine delivery. According to Kauṭalya,⁶ ambassadors may be divided into three classes, nisṛṣṭārtha, parimitārtha and śāsanahara. The first class, who had many miscellaneous functions to perform, must be fully qualified, that is, they must have all the qualifications of ministers. According to Kauṭalya, the minister should be of a good family, fully versed in all sciences, capable of self-sacrifice, highly devoted to his state and sovereign, pure-hearted and wise. The second class of envoys are those who are entrusted with a single definite mission, and hence men possessing less of the above qualifications would suffice. The śāsanaharas or the third class of envoys were mere carriers of the royal writs, and for this much less qualified men would generally be chosen.