Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthashastra of Kautilya), Vol. I c14.s2.19

c14.s2.19

It is often argued that the absence of a Sanskrit name for pre-emption shows the absence of the custom. Such a position is absurd on the face of it, for what is described at length need not necessarily be named. Besides, in all the cases we have noted, the subject of pre-emption has been subsumed under a more general one which has given its name to the chapter, and so we do not find a Sanskrit equivalent.³