Hindu Administrative Institutions c11.s3.47

c11.s3.47

In conformity to the above the law-giver Viṣṇu rules that the Rājakula or the family of the reigning king should not be extinguished on any account.² But the practical law-giver Kātyāyana seems to raise an interesting point in the course of a discussion on this subject. ‘Suppose the king of the land is an undesirable and an unrighteous monarch. How could he be continued.’ For the sake of a misbehaved monarch Kātyāyana says one must not destroy the kingdom. For the evil actions of the king could not have the acquiescence of the people at large. So in the opinion of this law-giver we can get rid of the king and not of the kingdom. On the other hand the conqueror must show regard to the established customs, usages, and the family laws of that country.