Theory of Government in Ancient India (Post-Vedic) c15.101

c15.101

Maṇḍala. would-be conqueror, placed in a circle of states. That circle, according to Maya, a Nītiśāstra writer, noticed by Kāmandaka, consisted of four sovereigns—the Vijigīṣu or the would-be conqueror, the Ari or enemy, Madhyama or potential powerful friend or enemy² and Udāsīna or neutral.³ Manu gives these four, and then adds that eight other, constituents had been enumerated so that the total came to twelve.⁴ So, according to the orthodox view of the Arthaśāstras, Smṛitis, Nītiśāstras, Purāṇas and general literature, the Maṇḍala, as the circle is called, consists of twelve kings divided as follows:—