The present treatise was submitted as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Calcutta. A year ago I wrote a work on "Ksatriya Clans in Buddhist India" which has been well received by scholars. This treatise is an improvement of the first and I have added four new chapters to it. The object of the entire volume is to present a narrative of the history, manners, customs, etc., of some Ksatriya tribes of ancient India. Scholars like Rhys Davids, Hoernle, Macdonell, Keith, Cunningham, and others do not doubt from time to time supplied valuable information regarding some of these tribes but a comprehensive and systematic account of the Ksatriya tribes who play such an important part in the history of Pre-Mauryan India is, I believe, presented for the first time in the following pages. I venture to think that I have collected all available information from the works of my predecessors but this forms only an infinitesimal part of my work. The major portion of the present volume embodies-the results of my research. I have utilized original works, Sanskrit, Pali, and Präkṛt such as the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Mahabharata, the Rāmāyaṇa, the Purānas, the Nikayas, the Jātakas, the Pali commentaries, the Kalpa Sutra, the Sütrakṛtänga, etc. The portions for which I am indebted to previous writers have carefully been indicated in the footnotes. The rest constitutes my original work. For instance, in the first section of the first chapter the discussion regarding the name, Licchavi, and its significance, is entirely new and original. In the second section. of the first chapter a full and systematic account of the capital of the Licchavis is given for the first time. Buddhaghosa's knowledge of the Mahavana has first been pointed out to me. The third section of the first chapter treats of the manners and customs of the Licchavis. In it I have pointed out for the first time that they were not vegetarians; they were fond of manly pastimes; they had a passion for hunting, regard for elders, and a love of education. They knew something about the construction of palaces and shrines, etc. I have described their matrimonial rites which have not been noticed by anybody else. The fourth section of the same chapter is entirely new and original and the major portion of the remaining chapters also may claim the same merit.
In a work of the kind that I have undertaken, one has got to rely mainly, if not entirely, on literary tradition. I have spared no pains to make full use of the materials that may be gathered from our ancient literature; at the same time, I have not overlooked the fact that much of this tradition is late and of little value for historical purposes. I have tried to separate legends from authentic history and have noticed the difference between the two in the marginal notes. But the task is beset with difficulties it is not always easy to draw the dividing line. It must not, however, be thought that my work is based wholly on literary evidence. I have made use of coins and inscriptions so far as they are useful for my purpose.
For some of the photographs and the map and for kind permission to reproduce them in this volume, my thanks are due to the Director-General of Archology of India, Lionel Heath Esqr., Curator, Central Museum, Lahore, Mr. Ramaprasad Chanda, B.A., F.A.S.B., Superintendent, Archaeological Section, Indian Museum, Calcutta, and the Superintendent of the Archaeological Survey, Frontier Circle. I shall be failing in my duty if I do not acknowledge my indebtedness to my friend, Babu Puran Chand Nahar, M.A., B.L., Vakil, High Court, Calcutta, for the photograph of Varddhamana Mahavira so kindly lent to me for reproduction in this volume.