State and Government in Ancient India c14.s2.13

c14.s2.13

The works on polity, however, declare that the orders of the state were to be regarded as more authoritative and binding than even the rules of the Dharmaśāstra.¹ The same is the view of Bṛihaspati (II. 27). Nārada decalres that a person, who does not obey the rules enjoined by the king, should be immediately punished for the offence of showing contempt to the royal decrees.² Śukra states that the king should publish his ordinances at important places by pasting them on the wall for the information of the public.³