The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c17.53

c17.53

When he leaves the hall of assembly, he is followed by a thousand chiefs and is soon met by "hosts of kings" who do him homage. Bâṇa's account of the Digvijaya which began on the morrow of Candrâpîḍa's consecration is interesting. "By degrees, as he wandered at will, he bowed the haughty, exalted the humble, encouraged the fearful, protected the suppliant, rooted out the vicious, and drove out the hostile. He anointed princes in different places, gathered treasures, accepted gifts, took tribute, taught local regulations, established monuments of his visit, made hymns of worship and inscribed edicts . . .” So there were conquests in all quarters.¹ True, Candrâpîḍa is accompanied by an army but there is hardly any fighting. The prince seems to be dealing merely with his own feudatories. Here it must be noted that the suzerain anointed his vassals, took tribute from them and exacted obedience and submission from them. It is a striking proof of Bâṇa’s fidelity to his age that the conclusions based on historical evidence are generally supported by his romance.