A History of Hindu Political Theories from the Earliest Times to the End of the First Quarter of the Seventeenth Century A.D. c10.133

c10.133

∗ Śāntiparvan CVII 6-32. In interpreting the above extract we have felt it necessary to differ in certain places from the versions of Mr. K. P. Jayswal (J. B. O. R. S. 1915, pp. 174-178) and Prof. Ramesh Chandra Majumdar (op. cit., pp. 110-111). ‘Kulānāñcha rājnāñcha’ in verse 10 is, we think, for reasons stated below, correctly rendered as ‘among the kulas of the rājās’ (Jayswal) and not as ‘among the kulas and the kings, (Majumdar). Mr. Jayswal (loc. cit. p. 176 footnote) explains it to mean ‘aristocracies like that of Patala,’ but the context (vide specially verse 28) shows that ‘kula’ is closely connected with, in fact is part and parcel of, the ‘gaṇa.’ The true meaning of ‘rājakula’ in the above phrase is probably the royal family or clan which, as we learn from other sources, formed the political unit of the gaṇa and was governed by a chief or chiefs bearing the title of king. (Vide D. R. Bhandarkar, op. cit., pp. 150-151, 160, 163 etc.). In verses 11-12 ‘lobhameko hi vriṇute........tato hyamarṣasaṁyuktau.... prakarṣantītaretaram,’ evidently involves a transition from the singular to the dual and thence to the plural number. In verse 26 ‘prithaggaṇasya bhinnasya vitatasya’ means, we think, the separate, divided and scattered, gaṇas. Finally, the second line of verse 31 ‘na chodyogena buddhyā vā rūpadravyena vā punah’ should we think go with the former line and not with the following couplet, since the application of dissension and bribery which is mentioned in verse 32 does not exclude the exercise of energy, intelligence, and ‘tempting with beauty.’