The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c15.19.3

c15.19.3

The Mahârâja Droṇasiṁha was installed "by besprinkling" by his paramount sovereign, 'the sole lord of the circumference of the whole earth,' and the glory of his new position "was purified by his great liberality." Judging from the date of the inscription of his grandson (571-72 A.D.), this event must have taken place during the latter days of the Gupta Empire.⁵ It was probably on such occasions that feudatories sometimes ventured to celebrate a sort of Aśvamedha.¹ Vassals specially favoured of the suzerain were given further honorific titles such as Sâmanta-cûḍâmaṇi.² Whether these additional titles were hereditary during this period is not clear but the ordinary feudal designations are always transmitted from father to son. Smaller feudatories, those bearing only the title of Râja, also make grants, though, judging from the paucity of their inscriptions, not with the same frequency.³ It appears that feudatories were sometimes employed in positions of high trust under the suzerain.