[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Hindu Administrative Institutions](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929) › c7.s7.64 # Hindu Administrative Institutions c7.s7.64 Hindu Administrative Institutions c7.s7.64 - **Language:** English ### [c7.s7.64](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c7.s7.64) The responsibilities and rights of the ancient Hindu king were too many and too varied. A catalogue of such duties and rights is given not only in the \*Dharmaśāstras\*, the \*Arthaśāstras\* and the \*Purāṇas\* but also in the whole range of Vedic literature both the \*Saṃhitās\* and the \*Brāhmaṇas\*. The \*Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa\* says that the king is the upholder of the sacred law or \*dharma\* as also his \*śrotriya\* (the \*purohita\*). The king alone is not ‘capable of all and every speech, nor of all and every deed’. ³ By upholding law he becomes a realm sustainer—\*rāṣṭrabhṛt\*.⁴ The necessity of offspring to a ruler so as to continue an uninterrupted succession is told in another succeeding verse.⁵ It is also enjoined that a king could not afford to neglect or oppress the \*purohita\* but try to work in conjunction with him and so to win distinction.⁶ His other functions are to root out the enemies and thus bring welfare to his people.⁷ He was to bestow gifts of land and wealth on the deserving but with the previous approval of the clan.⁸ He was forbidden to rear cattle.⁹ - [Previous: c7.s7.63](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c7.s7.63) - [Next: c7.s7.65](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c7.s7.65) - [Up: c7.s7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c7.s7) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c7.s7.64](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c7.s7.64) · Pramāṇa