Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c13.s1.28

v1.c13.s1.28

Kṛṣṇa Dēva Rāya's elucidation of the nature and importance of punishment was, on the whole, in accordance with the classical notions. "The wife's attachment to her husband, the proper relations between men and women, the ascetic subduing his indriyas, the lower castes showing deference to the higher, the servant looking carefully to the interests of the master, you should know that all these are brought about (ultimately) by the fear of the king's punishment".¹ It is evident that the monarch is referring to the importance of daṇḍa in the social life of the people in the above statements. He further says: "It is essential that a king should be able to enforce his commands. Even the Ābhīras and the Bhillas of the forest are able to enforce their orders, as by the sign of the arrow and the piece of thread. Much more therefore is it necessary that an emperor (Sārvabhauma) should be able to enforce his commands".²