Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c25.19

c25.19

§ 133. The republics of this group, the '**ruling Vishayas**' or the home-neighbours (**aparāntas**) of Aśoka were thus of the status which deserved the policy of peace or subsidy from the imperial Monarch. They were self-governing states within the imperial territorial limits. The list, of course, is not exhaustive, the emperor is mentioning only those '*ruling Vishayas*' which had accepted Buddhist teachings. Apparently Aśoka was not so successful with the **Rāshṭrikas** as with the **Bhojas** for he notes the latter in Section XIII amongst the places which were inclined to accept the Dharma teachings, while in Section V the Rāshṭrikas are noted amongst those where Aśoka's missionaries were busy.