Political Violence in Ancient India Paperback

Political Violence in Ancient India offers a nuanced and comprehensive examination of the various forms and justifications of violence within the political landscape of ancient Indian civilizations. This scholarly work delves into diverse primary sources, including epic narratives, legal treatises, and philosophical texts, to explore how violence was conceptualized, utilized, and legitimized—or condemned—by rulers, factions, and ideologies. It investigates phenomena such as warfare, rebellions, assassinations, and punitive measures, analyzing their role in state formation, dynastic changes, and the maintenance of social order, thereby providing critical insights into the complex relationship between power and force in pre-modern India.