[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.prasad-1928) › c19.41 # The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c19.41 The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c19.41 - **Language:** English ### [c19.41](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.prasad-1928.c19.41) In the early years of the 12th century when royal servants plundered the Agrahâra of Akṣosura, the local Brâhmaṇas went on a solemn fast (VIII, 898). Soon other fasts broke out in the city (VIII, 899-900) and yet others followed on an alarming, unprecedented scale (VIII, 901-2). The king tried to pacify them in vain (VIII, 903). Large numbers of citizens came every day to watch the hunger-strikers and discussed numberless plans with them but to no purpose (VIII, 905). The atmosphere was soon charged with electricity and the outbreak of a storm was not long delayed (VIII, 907). In the face of the crisis the first care of the king was to go to the hunger-strikers and try once again to conciliate them. But his endeavours failed once more (VIII, 903). The war went on. It was only when the Brāhmaṇas were frightened at certain exigencies in the struggle that they gave up the fast (VIII, 939-40). So familiar was the weapon of hunger-strike that even rulers sometimes resorted or threatened to resort to it to achieve their ends. At the commencement of the twelfth century King Uccala vowed that if any accused person or any litigant starved himself to death by way of protest against miscarriage of justice, he would himself commit suicide. So, we are told, the judges became very careful.¹ There were other forms of similar protest. Once a thief having died from an over-severe beating, the kind-hearted minister resigned and went off on a pilgrimage.² - [Previous: c19.40](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.prasad-1928.c19.40) - [Next: c19.42](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.prasad-1928.c19.42) - [Up: c19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.prasad-1928.c19) ## Linked texts (1) - [Rājataraṅgiṇī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.historical.kashmir.rajatarangini) — Kalhaṇa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.prasad-1928.c19.41](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.prasad-1928.c19.41) · Pramāṇa