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The original meaning of the word samanta as prescribed in the edicts of Arthashastra and Ashokan was that of a neighbour, or an individual ruler of a nearby territory, at the later period of time towards the end of gupta period, it came to be known as vassal, the samanta itself marks an important distinction of  period of post-gupta to that from the ancient age,by the sixth century, the term became widely acceptable.