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Political Concepts in Ancient India
nation along the safe course of activities if they
guided themselves by the light of the political
wisdom enshrined in the Mahabharata",19 ob-
served Professor Satkari Mookerjee in a paper
published in 1959. That was at a time when India
had friendly relations with China. But by ap-
plying the ancient Indian political theory, it appears
that, Professor Mookerjee could make a prediction
about the Indo-China conflict that took place some
three years later in 1962, as he observed, "To add
further fuel to the fire, China has become our imme-
diate neighbour (bhumyanantara) by overrunning
Tibet. She seems inebriated with power.... India
has to become militarily powerful enough in order
to inspire a feeling of healthy regard for her terri-
tory".2⁰
24
Thus the study of the ancient Indian political
wisdom has great significance, even in the present
age. The utility of the study of ancient Indian
political literature itself suffices to establish the utility
of the present Glossary. In this Glossary an attempt
is made to present an authentic and scientifically
prepared index to the technical terms of the vast and
extensive original literature on ancient Indian poli-
tical life and thought. Such a systematic index is
expected to be useful in view of the following
factors.
(a) There are certain such ideas for each
which we have more than one technical
19. Satkari Mookerjee, "Political Wisdom of Ancient India",
Journal of the Bihar Research Society, Vol. XXXXV, parts I-IV,
December, 1959.
20, Ibid,
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
nation along the safe course of activities if they
guided themselves by the light of the political
wisdom enshrined in the Mahabharata",19 ob-
served Professor Satkari Mookerjee in a paper
published in 1959. That was at a time when India
had friendly relations with China. But by ap-
plying the ancient Indian political theory, it appears
that, Professor Mookerjee could make a prediction
about the Indo-China conflict that took place some
three years later in 1962, as he observed, "To add
further fuel to the fire, China has become our imme-
diate neighbour (bhumyanantara) by overrunning
Tibet. She seems inebriated with power.... India
has to become militarily powerful enough in order
to inspire a feeling of healthy regard for her terri-
tory".2⁰
24
Thus the study of the ancient Indian political
wisdom has great significance, even in the present
age. The utility of the study of ancient Indian
political literature itself suffices to establish the utility
of the present Glossary. In this Glossary an attempt
is made to present an authentic and scientifically
prepared index to the technical terms of the vast and
extensive original literature on ancient Indian poli-
tical life and thought. Such a systematic index is
expected to be useful in view of the following
factors.
(a) There are certain such ideas for each
which we have more than one technical
19. Satkari Mookerjee, "Political Wisdom of Ancient India",
Journal of the Bihar Research Society, Vol. XXXXV, parts I-IV,
December, 1959.
20, Ibid,
Digitized by
Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN