Hindu Administrative Institutions c6.s3.9

c6.s3.9

The king is said to be the maker of *kāla* or time. He makes and unmakes the four *yugas* by his actions. He must ever endeavour to create the Kṛta Yuga as against the Kali Yuga.¹ In a later chapter (91) Bhīṣma speaks of the king himself as the Yuga (*v* 6). *Daṇḍa* or well-timed and impartial justice is *dharma*, and *artha* is the root of *dharma*. The whole chapter² is devoted to the discussion of this subject of *trivarga* and its place in Indian polity. The fruits of *dharma* are said to be the attainment of divinity and of heaven; of *artha* enjoyment (*bhoga*), of *kāma* (satisfaction of the senses) and of *mokṣa*, release from the bonds of these three. There must be healthy restraints in the realization of the three ends of life in order that this life may lead to *mokṣa*.³ There must be a harmonious co-ordination of these spiritual standards. In this context Bhīṣma narrates the discourse which took place between Kāmandaka Ṛiṣi and Angariṣṭa Rāja. The king enquires of the sage: ‘If a king under the influence of anger and jealousy commit deeds of sin and repent afterwards, will he be absolved of the sin? Can a king get salvation if in ignorance he practises *adharma* as *dharma*?’ The sage replied that the king who abandoned *dharma* and *artha*, and enjoyed *kāma* in excess would ruin his powers of knowledge, and in this state wicked people would increase in numbers. He would get himself involved in all kinds of troubles.