The Mauryan Polity c7.s1.t12.1

c7.s1.t12.1

A significant circumstance in this connection is the paternal conception of the government so eloquently proclaimed by the inscriptions left to us as an invaluable legacy by Aśoka. Even to this concept Aśoka was indebted to the *Arthaśāstra*. This is evident from the fact that the *Arthaśāstra* pleads for such a healthy form of government. It is unfortunate that an indologist of the standing of Dr. D. R. Bhandarkar has fallen into an error in examining the real force that underlies the paternal conception of administration. He remarks¹: "Just as children are solely dependent upon their parents who can do to them just what they like, the subjects were at the mercy of the king who was thus no better than a despot." The statement of Bhandarkar amounts to the fact that every father is a despot. If the feelings of a father towards his children are to be despotic it is impossible to cultivate homely virtues of peace and goodwill which were as much the crowning fruits of India's culture as those of other cultures. Nay, the notion of a father being despotic lays an axe at the root of all human relationships, and is contrary to all religious creeds. When we speak of parental feelings we mean undoubtedly genuine affection, transparent sincerity, and religious devotion to duty which consists in the upkeep of the children until they come of age and stand on their own legs. This and this alone is meant by Kauṭalya in his *Arthaśāstra* and Aśoka in his inscriptions.¹