The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c7.107

c7.107

There seems to have been a large staff of spies. "From the sky," says the Atharvaveda, "his (Varuṇa's) spies go forth hither; thousand-eyed they look over the earth."³ From a curious allusion in the Ṛigveda, one is inclined to infer that spies detected or caught criminals. Afraid of spies, Yama rejects the love of his sister.⁴ It is interesting that the Taittirīya Saṃhitâ mentions Dûtas as well as Prahitas.⁵ Many centuries later Sâyaṇâcârya, the great Vedic commentator, explained that the Dûta was a regular representative of the king while Prahita was a mere spy.