History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.12

v4.c62.12

It is interesting to note the names given to the science of government. The most appropriate word is 'rājaśāstra' and it is employed by the Mahābhārata, which speaks of Bṛhaspati, Bharadvāja and others as ‘rājaśāstra-praṇetāraḥ’ (vide p. 2 above). The Nītiprakāśikā (I. 21-22) also dubs the divine and human writers on government 'rājaśāstrāṇām praṇetāraḥ.' The same word is employed by such ancient classical writers as Aśvaghoṣa in his Buddhacarita (I. 46).⁶ The first verse in Prof. Edgerton's reconstructed Pañcatantra performs obeisance to Manu, Bṛhaspati, Śukra, Parāśara and his son and Cāṇakya as the authors of nṛpaśāstra (science of kingship). Another name is *Daṇḍanīti*. The Śāntiparva (59. 78) explains why Daṇḍanīti is so called viz. 'this world is led (on to the right path) by daṇḍa (the power of punishment, sanction) or this science carries (or sets forth) the rod of punishment; hence it is called daṇḍanīti and it (faces) pervades the three worlds.' In Śāntiparva 69. 76 it is stated that 'Daṇḍanīti controls the four varṇas so as to lead them on to the performance of their duties and when it is employed by the ruler properly, it makes them desist from adharma.'⁷ Śānti 63. 28 identifies Daṇḍanīti with rājadharmaḥ. The Kauṭilīya (I. 4) explains 'Daṇḍa is the means of the stability and welfare of Ānvīkṣikī. Trayī (the three Vedas) and Vārtā; the rules that treat of daṇḍa are called daṇḍanīti, which is a means of acquiring what has not been acquired, which safeguards what is acquired, which increases what is guarded and distributes (increased wealth) among the deserving.⁸ The Mahābhārata says (Śānti 69. 102) that a wise kṣatriya, putting daṇḍanīti in front, should always desire to acquire what is till then unacquired and should guard what is acquired.⁹ The Nītisāra (II. 15) says that *dama* (control or chastisement) is called daṇḍa, the king is called 'daṇḍa' because control is centered in him; that the nīti (rules) of daṇḍa is called daṇḍanīti and nīti is so called because it leads (people).'¹⁰ Śānti (69. 104) says that daṇḍanīti is the special concern of the kṣatriya (rājan). It is said in the Vanaparva 150. 32 that without Daṇḍanīti this whole world would break all bounds. Vide also Śānti 15.29, 63.28, 69.74 ff (eulogy of Daṇḍanīti). Daṇḍanīti is said to be the support of the world (Śānti 121.24) and to have been produced by Devī Sarasvatī (Śānti 122.25.)