Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 156

Sec. Viit] STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATÍ SÚTRA . 131
It is learnt from the Bhsi and the Nirayāvaliyā Sūtra? respectively that king Cetaka of Vaiśāli made a political alliance (Samśraya) with nine Mallakis and nine Licchavis, Kāśi, Kośala and their eighteen Gaņarājas to offer a stubborn resistance to the impending aggressive war declared by king Kūņika in defence of the sovereignty of the state of Vaiśālī and others.
He led the combined forces of his allies to fight the wars waged by Magadha, but unfortunately the local autonomy of the republican state of Vaisāli could not keep up its banner high for a long period and consequently had to bow down its head to the imperialism of Magadha.
In this connection one important matter should be observed that other states, such as, Vatsa, Avanti & Sindhu-Sauvīra observed & policy of neutrality (āsana) in this political struggle between Vaiśālī and Magadha, though the kings of the above three states were matrimonially related with king Cetaka', as it appears from the absence of any reference to their participation in these two wars as recorded in the Bhs. Peace-Time Relations
According to the theory advocated by all the political authors of ancient India, every state should maintain peace and try to avoid war as far as possible by establishing diplomatic relations with other states through its ambassadors on whom both war and peace depended.
The Bhs clearly shows that the foundation of every state was based on its military strength and peaceful federal relations with a number of princes, feudal lords and republican chiefs over whom the sovereign ruler exercised his suzerainty from hi capital.
This feudal feature of the state reveals that the subordinate kings, feudal lords, princes and chiefs bound by the tie of their
1 Bh8, 7, 9, 300, 301.
Nirayāvaliya Sūtra 1. 9 Hindu Civilization, 235, 236. See also the Bhs, for the matrimonial relation of king Cetaka with Vatsa king Satā. nika by offering his daughter, the princess, Mrgavati, the mother of king Udayan.