The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c17.47

c17.47

The hypothesis of the relationships of suzerainty and vassalage in the Vardhana Empire is supported by the evidence of Kâdambarî, a prose romance which was composed by Bâṇabhaṭṭa ³ under the patronage of Harṣa and which, details apart, may be held to reflect the dominant political conditions of the times. Feudatories abound in its pages. At the very commencement of the story, Śûdraka is painted as a second Indra, whose commands were honoured by the bent heads of all "kings," . . . who "had an army of neighbouring chiefs bowed down in loyalty to his Majesty." We are assured that he had the signs of a universal emperor.⁴ When the Caṇḍâla maiden is ushered in, she beholds the king in the midst of 1,000 chiefs.⁵ When the sun reaches its zenith and the hour of bath is at hand, the chiefs are dismissed from the audience-hall but they throng together to pay their respects to the king as he moves.⁶ When the time comes for Candrâpîḍa's consecration, he is anointed by the king surrounded by a thousand chiefs.⁷