Hindu Administrative Institutions c8.s1.38

c8.s1.38

Bharadvāja advocates secret murder of really refractory princes. But the sage Viśālākṣa takes a different view and recommends that they must be kept under restraint in certain isolated places. If this method were not pursued there would be the extinction of the Kṣatriya race as it were.¹ In fact Aśvathāma’s killing of the child in the womb of Uttara would have extirpated the military race almost but for the timely help of Kriṣṇa. He gave life to the dead child and the latter was the famous king Parīkṣit. According to Parāśara these recalcitrant princes could be removed to the frontier and kept far away from the activity of the state. Yayāti sent his rebel sons to the care of the frontier guards. But the sage Kauṇapadanta is of opinion that it was not a proper line, for it would give a sure handle to the enemy-king. The latter would endeavour to pursuade these princes and would make mischief against their father, the king. This is well seen in the case of the later Mughal Emperors. So it is recommended that they could be placed under their maternal relations. Mādhavagupta and Kumāragupta were sent to the court of Prabhākaravardhana, the father of Harṣa. Kauśika’s sons were sent to their uncle Dakṣaprajāpati. Kauṭalya is not satisfied with these methods. Practical man that he was he believed in the moral value of the special training and good discipline born of healthy influence of environment and association. He says that a prince should be taught both in dharma and artha so that he would not fall into immoral temptations of an alluring nature.²