Inter-State Relations – Ancient India
Chapter – 13
- In a study focused on state and government organization, inter-state relations are addressed broadly, divided into war and peace contexts, considering relations between sovereign states and their feudatories.
- Vedic period offers limited information on interstate relations; states were largely tribal, focusing on subjugating non-Aryans, leading to generally peaceful relations among themselves.
- Envy among Aryan tribes grew due to differences in their success, leading to occasional conflicts, sometimes aided by non-Aryan chiefs.
- During the later Vedic period, small Aryan tribes merged into larger territorial states, though their sizes remained modest, comparable to a modern Commissioner’s Division.
- The status and prestige of states varied based on resources and leadership; titles such as soarăț, ekarät, samräf, and adhiraf indicated differences in status, but the nature of these distinctions is unclear.
- Weaker states likely paid tribute to stronger ones, reflecting a hierarchy among states.
- Later Vedic religion and culture idealized empires, with the asvamedha sacrifice signifying a desire to be a king of kings, while the vajapeya was associated with aspirations for emperorship.