Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c13.s5.40

v1.c13.s5.40

What happened to those who plotted against the life of Dēva Rāya II is told by 'Abdur Razzāq thus: "All these who had been concerned in that plot, were either flayed alive, or burnt to death, or destroyed in some other fashion, and their families were altogether exterminated. The person who had brought the invitation was also put to death".² The Vijayanagara rulers evidently carried to its worst limits the injunction of Kauṭilya, who says that "the king in the interests of righteousness may inflict punishment in secret on those courtiers or confederacy of chiefs who are dangerous to the safety of the kingdom and who cannot be put down in open daylight".³ According to the same authority, "any person who aims at the kingdom, who forces entrance into the king's harem, who instigates wild tribes or enemies (against the king) or who creates disaffection in forts, country parts, or in the army, shall be burnt alive from hand to foot".⁴