Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c37.60

c37.60

"A Brāhmaṇa or a priest then offers the sacrificial sword"² to the king, the increaser of the public prosperity.³ The sword thus received, he passes on as symbol of authority to all the state officers and the village headmen. And he demands their co-operation by quoting gracefully the very words of fealty used by the Brahmin—'*Rule for me therewith*', (*tena me rādhya*). It has a double meaning '*serve me therewith*', (*tena me rādhya*).⁴ In the latter case the second meaning is intended. The command for co-operation is even directed to the *Sajāta*, an individual member of the nation⁵.