Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c8.s2.9

c8.s2.9

Siege-warfare was the usual practice. The aggressive king would besiege the neighbour's state and challenge him either to surrender or to prepare for the battle. Sometimes the seige continued for a considerable time. Kūṇika is said to have besieged the city of Vesāli for a long period.⁵³ King Sālivāhana used to lay siege to Bharuyakaccha every year.⁵⁴ It is stated that when Jiyasattu and other kings besieged Mihilā, king Kumbhaga closed the city gates and the citizens could not move out.⁵⁵ It is for this reason that the cities of those days were strongly fortified. The fortifications consisted of walls (*pākāra*), battlements (*gopura*), towers (*aṭṭālaga*), moats and trenches (*ussālaga*, com. *khādikā*) and *sayagghi* for defending a town.⁵⁶