Public Administration in Ancient India c10.64

c10.64

In the people lay the strength of the King, and it was their well-being to which he was expected to devote his constant attention. It was held unrighteous and inexpedient to excite popular discontent. The duties of the King, according to the Mahābhārata,² were: (1) to please the people;³ (2) to protect them; (3) always to seek their welfare; (4) to establish all his subjects in the observance of their respective duties; (5) to punish wrongdoers; and (6) to practise the virtues of promptitude, energy, truthfulness, self-restraint, humility, righteousness, fortitude, and compassion. The following passage, which occurs in the Milinda-panha, also gives us an idea of what the people thought to be the duties of the King. It runs thus: “The sovran overlord gains the favour of the people by the four elements of popularity (viz. liberality, affability, justice, and impartiality). . . . The sovran overlord allows no robber bands to form in his realm . . . travels through the whole world even to its own boundary, examining into the evil and the good . . . is completely provided with protection, both within and without.”¹