A History of Hindu Political Theories from the Earliest Times to the End of the First Quarter of the Seventeenth Century A.D. c9.23

c9.23

The theories of kingship in Kauṭilya occur characteristically enough as an incident in the discussion of concrete problems of statecraft. Thus in the first place, he cites in one passage a discussion of the earlier authors relating to the comparative seriousness of the ‘calamities’ befalling the factors of government (prakṛtis). Rejecting the view of Bhāradvāja, he states in this passage that the king’s ‘calamity’ is more serious than that of the minister (amātya). The king alone, he argues, appoints the ministers, the domestic priest and the servants; he employs the superintendents; he applies remedies against troubles; as is his conduct, so is that of the other factors of government (prakṛtis): the king stands at the head of these factors (tatkūṭasthānīyo hi svāmī).n∗ In this important passage is evidently involved the doctrine of the king’s headship of the elements of sovereignty.n† This view reaches its climax in a later passage of the Arthaśāstra, where Kauṭilya sums up the constituent elements of government (prakṛtis) by declaring that the king is the government (rāja rājyamiti prakṛtisaṃkṣepaḥ).n‡ Government, then, while involving the seven constituent factors, is according to this view, ultimately resolvable into one element, namely the king, that absorbs all the rest.