Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c9.s5.51

c9.s5.51

A study of the foreign relations of the Licchavis reveals that there is no justification here for Kauṭilya's *maṇḍala* theory,⁸ that the central state will be hostile to its neighbour and friendly to the state bordering on the latter. This doctrine of a "natural enemy" and "natural friend" is not supported by the Buddhist and the Jaina texts, at least with regard to the republican and monarchical states of the Buddhist period. It held true only in part, as Magadha was hostile to Vesālī and Kosala to Kapilavatthu. But we do not hear of the Mallas or the Videhas and Nāyas being hostile to the Licchavis and friendly to the Magadhans. Apart from the Mallian Bandhula being the general of the Kosalan army, we do not find the Mallas specifically friendly to the Kosalan king and hostile to the Sakyas, Moriyas and the Licchavis. According to Kauṭilya’s theory they should have been natural enemies, but our sources indicate just the contrary. The cordial relations among the republics led them to form a confederation¹ and to unite against Magadha.