Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c19.s1.8

v2.c19.s1.8

Before we note the similarity that exists between Vijayanagara theory and that of the ancients in this respect, we may cite the opinion of Kauṭilya, who, in his enumeration of the elements of sovereignty, says: "The king, the minister, the country, the fort, the treasury, the army and the friend are the elements of sovereignty".³ The Brahman, therefore, in his priestly capacity, is, according to Kauṭilya, a negligible factor in the matter of sovereignty.