right to adjudicate on boundary disputes arose out of their ownership of the broader land, but such an interpretation does not stand scrutiny. Indeed, the term's meaning as a feudal lord only emerged gradually over time later in ancient India.

Early development

The term 'Samanta' originally meant a 'neighbour' and in the Mauryan period, the term referred to the independent ruler of an adjoining territory as is evident from its use in the Arthashastra and Ashokan edicts. The 'border-lords'

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