Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

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STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
loyalty to the crown surrendered their rights to the centre to follow an independent foreign policy, to establish and maintain separate diplomatic relations with other states and to organize full-fledged army of their own. They had to pay their tributes and to render military services to their paramount king in times of war. But it appears from the Bhs that perhaps they enjoyed autonomy in their internal administration within their respective small feudal estates.
Thus it is stated in this canonical work that king Udayana of Sindhu-Sauvīra' exercised his suzerainty over sixteen Janapadas Vitībhaya, etc., three hundred and sixty three cities, Mahāsena and others, ten kings, many princes, lords etc., while king Śiva of Hastināpuru' ruled over a number of feudal kings or lords.
The political struggle between Magadha and Vaišāli and others clearly reveals that eighteen republican chiefs, nine Mallakis and nine Licchavis' rendered valuable military services to king Cetaka of Vaiśālī in his war with king Kūņika.
The evidence of the self-reflection of king Śiva on his own powerful majestic position that his feudal kings "will obey his authority so long there is his prosperity" suggests that the state had to keep vigilence over them with regard to their doings, as their loyalty depended on the military power and material prosperity of the sovereign ruler.
The terms "Sandhivāla"6 and "Palayāhi''? (frontier-guard and protect) used in the Bhs imply that the state appointed frontier-guards to keep a watchful eye over the inter-state affairs by carefully observing the activities of its neighbours, neutrals, enemies and ambitious rulers desirous of conquest.
The counsel "govern (protect), being surrounded by allies" (pālayāhi itthajaņasamparivude), given by the retiring king to the heir-apparent at the time of coronation suggests that the state must have followed a foreign policy to secure a firm,
i Bhs, 13, 6, 491. ^ Bhs, 11, 9, 417. 4 16, 7, 9, 300, 301, 6 16, 7, 9, 417. 7,8 lb, 11, 9, 417; 13, 6, 491.
3 Bhs, 7, 9, 300.
16, 7, 9, 309.