Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c25.18

c25.18

§ 132. Let us now examine the **rāja-vishayas**. Aśoka always refers to his territories in the first person possessive. He speaks of 'my empire'. It will therefore be against his known usage to call his countries 'royal countries.' He would have said, if he meant it, 'my countries,' '*my vishayas*' and not '*rāja-vishayas*'. Further, there is no occasion to refer to his countries or provinces, as he has in the same sentence already said 'throughout my empire.' '*Rājavishayas*' here is equivalent to the *aparāntas* of Section V. *Rājavishayas* should be interpreted as 'ruling (or 'sovereign) countries' (or districts), inside the empire. The 'inside neighbours' here equals the '*ruling vishayas*'.