Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c13.s2.1

v1.c13.s2.1

Wise as Kṛṣṇa Dēva Rāya certainly was, even he had to follow the system of justice as laid down by the ancient rulers of southern India. Custom has always played an important part in the life of the Hindu people; and in matters of justice, ancient usage has been raised to the dignity of law. This explains the injunction found in the *dharma-śāstras* to the effect that rulers were to preserve and respect the ancient custom of the land. Thus in the code of Manu: "The custom handed down in regular succession (since time immemorial) among the (four chief) castes (*varṇa*) and the mixed (races) of that country, is called the conduct of virtuous man".¹ Gautama says: "The laws of countries, castes, and families, which are not opposed to the (sacred) records, (have) also authority".²