War in Ancient India c4.s6.t7.9

c4.s6.t7.9

The position of subdued or vassal States was that they retained their old methods of administration, their laws and customs, their language and their religion. The visible manifestation of their subordinate capacity lay in periodical payment of tribute and presents, assistance in war, and the absence of separate foreign relations.⁵⁹ Under weaklings the empire broke down and under the powerful it was built up. Need it be said that in any case defence was absolutely essential either to the Imperial power or to the vassal State? According to the *Sangam* classics, each of the respective rulers of the chief Tamil kingdoms, the Cēra, Cōḻa and Pāṇḍya, carried his sword as far north as the Himalayas, and implanted on its lofty heights his respective crest the bow, the tiger, and the fish.