Pre-Buddhist India: A Political, Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey of Ancient India Based Mainly on the Jataka Stories c4.9

c4.9

The kings of those days often aspired to universal conquest (*Cāturanta, Ekarāja*),² as we have already seen. They were never satisfied with victories.³ But what their conquests meant to the general mass of the people is clearly shown by their remaining as unaffected as ever. Invasions and retreats or in some cases occupations of the throne were no doubt going on between individual kingdoms. No well-directed imperial policy as we are accustomed to see in Medieval times is to be seen in those days. Even in cases where subordination was present, as for instance under Manoja and Daṇḍaki, no permanent subordination was possible. As a matter of fact the defeated king was never pulled down from his throne but he was allowed to enjoy it if only he, as a vassal, could accept the overlordship of the victorious power. A characteristic instance is provided by the *Soṇananda Jātaka*.⁴ A Kosala king is invaded by a Kāsī monarch. A proposal is made by the minister of the latter king to the former—“Great king, be not dismayed. There is no danger threatening your kingdom; it shall still be yours. Only submit to King Manoja.”