A History of Hindu Political Theories from the Earliest Times to the End of the First Quarter of the Seventeenth Century A.D. c10.92

c10.92

In connection with this point, it may be noticed as a characteristic feature of the canonical statecraft its frequent inculcation of a mixed or a middle course of conduct upon the king. Manu, for example, urges the king in one place to be both sharp and gentle on the ground that one who behaves in this fashion is highly respected.∗ This precept is taught with greater effect in the Śāntiparvan. In chapter LVI Bhīṣma speaking on the duties of the king urges the observance of the qualities of truthfulness, righteousness, straightforwardness and the like,† but in the same breath he mentions certain exceptions to the general rule by pointing to the essential needs of statecraft. The mild king, we are told, is constantly disregarded by all men, while he who is strict becomes oppressive to the people; hence the king should be both mild and strict.‡ In a later passage Bhīṣma forbids Yudhiṣṭhira to be merciful towards all creatures and, after quoting a text from Brihaspati, concludes that the king should neither be constantly merciful nor constantly severe, but should be like the vernal sun which causes neither cold nor perspiration.§ Again in chapter LXXV Bhīṣma, after saying that the king who is self-seeking, cruel and very greedy, can not rule his subjects, is constrained to state in reply to a question of Yudhiṣṭhira that sovereignty can not be exercised by one who is wholly merciful. In a later verse Bhīṣma attempts to justify his teaching by saying that no righteous man, be he householder or king or student, ever scrutinized the nature of righteousness with particular care.|| This implies, as we learn from the commentator, that a slight breach of morality is unavoidable. In another place the teacher, asked as to the qualifications of the ministers (sachivas), confesses that the kings desiring success have to adopt both righteous and unrighteous paths and he proceeds to advise that the king should trust as well as distrust some people.∗