A History of Sanskrit Literature c18.s3.10

c18.s3.10

Of the many maxims cited only about a quarter can be assigned to moral, religious, or philosophical thought, the rest deal with royal policy and general rules of life. The latter are far from always unmoral; the hero of Book ii is a fine character of the heroic type, proud but ever ready to sacrifice himself for his folk and his friends; the mouse also, when he ruled his subjects, worked desperately for them, and in the sphere of private life the householder is expected to be loyal, generous, and upright. There is no suggestion of approval of a low moral standard in domestic life; violators of marriage ties are clearly not admired, and lack of sensitiveness to dishonour is disapproved and ridiculed.