[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [State and Government in Ancient India](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949) › c19.10 # State and Government in Ancient India c19.10 State and Government in Ancient India c19.10 - **Language:** English ### [c19.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.10) The Dharmasūtras and the \*Arthaśāstra\* reveal to us a more or less full-fledged and well developed judiciary. The king was at its head and he was to attend the court daily to decide disputes. It was his sacred duty to punish the wrong-doers; if he flinched from discharging it, he would go to hell. The thief was to approach the king with a pestle in his hand and confess to him his offence;¹ if the king did not take the pestle from his hand and dash his brains out as a punishment, it would amount to a derilection of duty. - [Previous: c19.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.9) - [Next: c19.11](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.11) - [Up: c19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.10) · Pramāṇa