Public Administration in Ancient India c10.90

c10.90

The standard by which Kings were judged in Ancient India was thus very high. This standard could only be reached, when, in the words of Plato, “philosophers are Kings, or the Kings and Princes of this world have the spirit and power of philosophy, and political greatness and wisdom melt in one.”² Fortunately, tradition and history do furnish us with examples of such philosopher-kings in India. Tradition enshrines the memories of Rāma and Yudhishthira as the highest ideals of virtuous monarchs. Kālidāsa depicts Dilīpa as a great and wise King who always found his happiness in that of his subjects.³ In historical times, rulers like Asoka and Harshavardhana