Hindu Administrative Institutions c7.s7.43

c7.s7.43

Lastly he must protect himself from the enemies of his kingdom. For this he must maintain a well-disciplined army and navy under the supervision of an efficient military department. Spies and envoys formed a regular feature of the military administration. Fortresses were also a feature of the defences of the kingdom against foreign enemies. Thus the importance and value of the king's person were recognized at all times and in all places in ancient India. It is further said that he must never trust any one too readily and must evoke confidence from all.³ It is again enjoined on monarchs as a class that they must abstain from certain evil habits which, if indulged in, would become regular vices, the so-called *vyasanās* of the king. It would be interesting and perhaps instructive to learn what these are. Vices are due to *kāma*, *krodha*, *lobha*, *moha*, *mada* and *mātsarya*. Manu lays down as a principle¹ that the king must avoid the ten evils arising from *kāma* and the eight from *krodha*. Too much indulgence of *kāma* could only be at the cost of *dharma* and *artha*, and that of *krodha* leads to the ultimate destruction of personal safety.