Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c13.s3.13

c13.s3.13

As soon as the Śākyas of Kapila heard that Virūḍhaka had come with all his troops to destroy them they got together their army, sallied forth and repulsed him . . . . After repelling Virūḍhaka’s army, the Śākyas re-entered the city, shut their gates, and remained watching on their walls, sounding their trumpets the while . . . . The Śākyas issued a proclamation prohibiting anyone from attacking Virūḍhaka or his army . . . There happened to be a Śākya called Shampaka who was off working for himself on the hills, and who had not heard the proclamation . . . . Filled with rage on hearing of Virūḍhaka’s attack, he sallied forth towards Virūḍhaka’s army, and overthrew a great number of persons, the greater part of whom he killed outright. Virūḍhaka, greatly discouraged, said to Ambarisha, ‘Are these your righteous people who will not kill even a beetle? If they all kill as many of us as this one man, there will not be left a soul living among us.’²