History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.102.1

v4.c62.102.1

Kauṭilya VI. 1 contains several lists of the king's qualities from several points of view. First, there is a list of qualities that make the king win the heart of the people (or make him approachable) viz. being of a noble family, godly, spirited, consulting the aged, virtuous, truthful, not failing in his promises, grateful, taking broad views (not pusillanimous), highly enthusiastic, not given to procrastination, powerful enough to control his feudatories, firm in mind, having a council of ministers of no mean calibre, desirous of self-discipline. These are called ‘ābhigāmika-guṇas’ which word occurs in the Palitana plates of Dharasena II (of Valabhī) in E.I. vol. XI p. 83 and in the Māliya plate of the same king (Gupta Ins. pp. 164, 169). The Daśakumāracarita VIII appears to make a pointed reference to this list when it makes a character say that the king (there referred to) has in him all the qualities beginning from good family (sarvai-vātma-sampad-abhijanāt-prabhṛti &c.) Then the intellectual qualities he should possess are: desire to learn, study, understanding of what is studied and retaining it, reflection, discussion and devotion to the principles accepted after discussion. Almost the same qualities of the intellect (*dhī*) are mentioned by Kām. IV. 22. The word ‘śakyasāmanta’ (in Kauṭ. VI. 1) occurs also in Agnipurāṇa 239. 4.