History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.127.3

v4.c62.127.3

In ancient India, though there were naturally no Acts of Parliament guaranteeing the above services to the subjects, public opinion, the views of eminent writers and the practice of the best kings created an atmosphere in which it was thought that it was imperative for the king representing the State and its resources to encourage learning, to care for the blind, the decrepit, the old and the widowed and to give employment to those who were unemployed. Aśoka constructed hospitals for men and animals (2nd Rock Edict at Kalsi in C. I. I. vol. 1, p. 28), alms-houses, rest houses, watering places, shady trees on the highways and irrigation works, visited and supported the aged (8th Girnar Rock Edict in C. I. I. p. 15). In the 2nd century B. C. Khāravela, emperor of Kaliṅga, declares in his Hāthigumphā Inscription (E. I. vol. XX p. 71 at p. 86) that in the very first year of his reign he constructed embankments round the Khibīra lake in the Kaliṅga capital and renovated all public gardens. Rudradāman in the 2nd century A. D. repaired the Sudarśana lake at great cost from his own treasury without levying fresh taxes or benevolences (*praṇaya*) or forced labour. The Anuśāsanaparva says that good kings should⁷⁸ construct meeting halls, *prapās*, tanks, temples and lodging places for brāhmaṇas. The Matsyapurāṇa 215. 64 remarks that the king should give to those who stay in hermitages food, oil and pots. Vide Āp. Dh. S. II. 2. 4.