The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c18.65

c18.65

On espionage Somadeva seems to reflect the facts of his times all over India. Broadly speaking, secret agents fell into two classes, those who busied themselves with discovering the misdeeds of officials and the feelings of subjects and those who sought to probe the intentions and plans of neighbouring rulers. In either case they were to disguise themselves as ascetics and scholars, mathematicians and astrologers, physicians and soldiers, tradesmen and artisans, singers and dancers, foresters and snakecharmers, sorcerers and jugglers, and so forth. They must be paid adequately.¹ Another realistic touch is furnished when the author, in spite of his Jaina persuasion, lays down that in law-courts a Brâhmaṇa should take the oath by touching his sacred thread or a piece of gold; a Kṣatriya, by touching a weapon, a jewel or the ground, etc., a Vaiśya by touching his ear or gold, a Śûdra by touching milk or corn. The idea, we are told, is that the form of oath should have some correspondence with the occupation of the person concerned.² There are many other political maxims in the Nitivâkyâmṛtam but they are too theoretical.³