The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c15.19.5

c15.19.5

The grants being also expressly free from the entrance of government police and soldiers, it seems that the grantee was expected to arrange for defence and maintenance of order. Since most of the grantees were Brâhmaṇas, some of them might not have discharged these duties by themselves. Perhaps they left them to chief persons of the village. But in any case, this system of grants which are avowedly hereditary, which, in fact, are expected to last “until the sun and moon endure,” and the resumption of which is cursed with the heaviest imprecations, would introduce an element of feudalism at the bottom. These small landholders, however, could easily be controlled in the case of any untoward incidents. The great feudatories might have been more difficult to manage. Vassalage faded by insensible degrees into practical independence. It is significant that the Allâhâbâd Inscription counts the king of Ceylon, undoubtedly independent, as a sort of vassal.