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.makes no such references at all and the only few allusions <to the Yavanas do not prove alien interference in politics. The .•signification of ^4 Yavana' is not the same as that of ^c Mlecha,* It is therefore safe to deduce that at the time of the Rarnayana foreign influence was not felt, at any rate not enough to give the foreigners a territorial dominion in the international policy of Indian States.
 5.	The geographical account of Valmiki regarding Southern
India denies the existence of any civiiifed kingdoms there.
On the other hand the country South of the Vindhya range is
the haunt of savage demons like Viradha and Kabandha. In the
royal invitations at DasarajthaV Court no one King of Southern
India has a summons, nor does Rama in his journey south
wards make alliance with a civilized prince.    On the other
hand the Kings of Southern India have a prominent reception
at  the Rajasuya sacrifice of Yudhistira.    The geographical
-sketch   of Bharata-varsha as given ia the   Bhishma-parva
•shows a very intimate acquaintance with the advanced states
of the Dekhan.    Hence, since the days of the Ramayana the
country  has from a political point of view made a decided
advance.
 6.	The test of archery at the marriage of Sita had better be
compared  with that at Draupadi-Swayamvara*   The latter
indicates an obvious advance in the dexterity of the test. In the
construction of the army also, we see an improvement in the
science of war.   Rama's army knows not of varied dispositions,
whereas in the Bharata war the plan of Vyuhas or arrays has
already been devised, by means of which a small force   can
withstand a powerful one.   The ordered supervision of the
commandants^ the regular signals of colored standards,  the