[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jain-1947) › c8.s2.9 # Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c8.s2.9 Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c8.s2.9 - **Language:** English ### [c8.s2.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jain-1947.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 - [Previous: c8.s2.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jain-1947.c8.s2.8) - [Next: c8.s2.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jain-1947.c8.s2.10) - [Up: c8.s2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jain-1947.c8.s2) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jain-1947.c8.s2.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jain-1947.c8.s2.9) · Pramāṇa