Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c41.65

c41.65

Disaffection might follow a Regent's threat to realize a war-tax. Kautilya's agents, says the Artha-Śāstra, taking service under the Regent, while the enemy king was out with his army in the field, would secretly tell the Paura-Jānapadas, as friends, that the Regent had ordered the government to demand taxes the moment the king returned. And when the Pauras held a general meeting to give their votes on the subject the leaders were to be done away with at night secretly, and the rumour circulated by the agents "this is done because they were