Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c43.16

c43.16

§ 295. It is a law and and principle of Hindu constitution that the king cannot act without the approval and co-operation of the Council of Ministers. The law-sūtras, the law-books, and the political treatises are all unanimous on the point. Manu calls a king foolish who would attempt to carry on the administration by himself. He regards such a king as unfit.¹ He lays down that the king must have 'colleagues,' *i.e.*, ministers; and that in their midst and along with them he has to consider ordinary and extraordinary matters of state,² even ordinary business ought not to be done by one man, not to speak of the conduct of a kingdom.³ Yājñavalkya is of the same opinion⁴ and so are the other law-givers. Kātyāyana ordains that the king should not decide even a law-suit by himself and that he should do it along with the council.⁵ Even Kauṭilya, the greatest advocate of monarchy, has to say that matters of state should be discussed by the council