Hindu Administrative Institutions c7.s2.11

c7.s2.11

The consecration of the king is the first business of the state. Otherwise there will be trouble from undesirables. There will be anarchy. There is Vedic authority to regard the king as Indra himself. He must be honoured like Indra. In a kingless state there will be no *dharma*. If a king of a neighbouring state invades the kingless country, the people of the latter should not resist him but honour him duly. For the hand of protection of the king will tend towards the welfare of the state. If a superior king should become aggressive he would swallow the inferior powers. The cow that yields milk easily must not be put to trouble during milking. The tree that bends of itself need not be bent by artificial means. Hence the superior power must always be obeyed. In a kingless state property or family will not be safe. Even the wicked will not feel happy. On this account the gods appointed a king. In ancient days when anarchy was rampant the people made an agreement among themselves. He must be abandoned who speaks bombastically, who is cruel in acts, is voluptuous and encroaches on other's property. Sometime after, they approached Brahma, with prayerful respects, for a king. Then Brahma ordered Manu to be the king. The latter refused the offer saying that it would mean shouldering heavy responsibility, and that an attempt to rule over the country which was full of the wicked and the untruthful would be a trying task. On this the people entered into a contract by which they agreed to give him 1/50 of the cows, 1/50 of gold, 1/10 of grains, a beautiful maiden as queen and a bodyguard. In return they asked for the destruction of their enemies so that they might lead quiet lives. He agreed and with a great army set out for the conquest of all quarters. His refulgence and prowess made the people tremble in fear and in consequence they followed their *svadharma*.¹