Public Administration in Ancient India c12.16

c12.16

“ The King,” says Bharadvāja, “ should employ his fellow-students as his Ministers, for they can be trusted by him inasmuch as he has personal knowledge of their honesty and capacity.” “ No,” says Visālāksha, “ for, as they have been his playmates, they would disregard him. But he should employ as ministers those whose secrets are known to him.” Parāsara says, “ The fear of betrayal is common to both, and under the fear of the betrayal of his own secrets, the King may follow his Ministers in their good and bad acts. Hence he should employ as Ministers those who have proved faithful to him under difficult circumstances.” “ No,” says Pisuna, “ for this is devotion but not intellectual capacity. He should appoint as ministers those who, when employed in financial work, show as much as, or more than, the usual revenue, and are of tried ability.” Kaunapadanta says: “ That would not do; for such persons are devoid of other ministerial qualifications; he should employ as Ministers men whose fathers and grandfathers have been Ministers; such persons, because of their knowledge of past events and of a long-standing relationship with the King, will, though offended, never desert him.” “ No,” says Vātavyādhi, “ for such persons, having acquired complete dominion over the King, usurp the King’s powers. He should, therefore, appoint such new men as are proficient in political science.” “No,” says the son of Bāhudanti, “for a man possessing only a theoretical knowledge of the science and having no experience of practical politics is likely to commit serious blunders when employed in the work of actual administration. Hence he should employ as ministers, men who are born of a high family, and are possessed of wisdom, purity of purpose, bravery and loyalty. Ministerial appointments should depend only on qualifications.” Chānakya gives his own view in those words: “There is an element of reasonableness in each of these opinions; the fitness of a Minister should be considered in view of the work he is called upon to undertake.” 1