Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c11.s7: The King
Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c11.s7
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The King
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The king was primarily the wielder of the sceptre (*daṇḍadhara*), and his chief function was to maintain the social order by restraining the wrong-doers and ensuring the peace necessary for lawful men to pursue their avocations without hindrance.¹ Kings were described in this period as *devānāmpriya*, beloved of the Gods, and perhaps also as *priyadarśana*, of gracious appearance. The throne looked for support to the sacerdotal power and generally got it; this becomes clear from the relation in which Kauṭilya stands to Chandragupta, from the place of the *purohita* in the state as the special adviser of the monarch with whom he conferred alone in a difficulty, and from the comprehensive statement in the *Arthaśāstra* which clinches the traditional view saying: "Royal power (*Kṣatra*) triumphs (even) without arms and ever remains invincible when it is held up by the Brāhmaṇa, is sanctified by the counsels of ministers, and follows the precepts of the *śāstras*".² The king led a strenuous life and was ever intent on the promotion of the well-being of his subjects. His daily routine was prescribed by the text-books, and Kauṭilya also reproduces this model time-table; but he adds wisely that the monarch is to adjust his programme of work according to his capacity and inclination.¹ He should ever be prepared to deal with urgent matters with quick despatch and should not make himself inaccessible to persons who wished to meet him on business, as this would lead to grave political disaffection. Diligence is his first duty. Aśoka, we shall see, lived up to this exacting ideal; we have no reason to believe that Chandragupta and Bindusāra did otherwise. The observations of Megasthenes on the arrangements in the royal palace and the precautions taken for ensuring the safety of the king's person are fully borne out in the chapters of the *Arthaśāstra*.² All personal services to the monarch were performed by women; the risks of food poisoning, and intrigues in the harem were carefully guarded against; and on the occasions when the king issued from the palace, his route was guarded by armed soldiers. The princes were trained carefully and employed in situations suited to their capacity and taste; on this question, apt to be particularly vexatious owing to the prevalent polygamy of kings, Kauṭilya dismisses all the antiquated and ingenious views put forward in the works known to him, and lays down the course dictated alike by common sense, propriety and the public good; he is very clear that in no case should an ill-disciplined prince, even if he happened to be the only son of the reigning monarch, be employed in the affairs of state or permitted to sit on the throne. Ill-natured princes were to be put under restraint and kept out of harm's way.
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¹ *KA.* I. 4.
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² *Ibid.* I. 9, final verse.
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¹ *Ibid.* I. 19.
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² *Ibid.* I. 20-21.
Linked texts (1)
- Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit