History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.305.1

v4.c62.305.1

The word 'rāṣṭra' occurs even in the Ṛgveda (IV. 42.1, 'mama dvitā rāṣṭraṁ kṣatriyasya')–'mine is the kingdom on both sides (or in both spheres)' says king Trasadasyu. In Ṛg. VII. 34.11 Varuṇa is praised as the Lord of rāṣṭras (rājā rāṣṭrāṇām &c.). In Ṛg. VII. 84.2 and X. 109. 3 the word rāṣṭra occurs. In a very famous benedictory ¹⁷⁵ passage of the Tai. S. VII. 5. 18. 1(= Vāj. S. 22.22 ) one of the blessings invoked is 'may the king in this kingdom become brave, a skilled archer, and a great warrior'. Vide Tai. Br. III. 8. 13 for explanation of the Tai. S. passage. In the Atharvaveda XII. 1. 8 and 10 the earth is called mother and invoked to impart to the *rāṣṭra* strength and brilliance (or energy). Kām. VI. 3 says 175a that since all the elements of the State spring from the territory of the State, the king should raise up his territory with all his efforts. The Agnipurāṇa 239. 2 holds that rāṣṭra is the most important of all elements of the State. Manu VII. 69 prescribes that a king should make his home in a country that is not water-logged (i. e. is dry and not moist),¹⁷⁶ is rich in crops, inhabited mostly by Āryas (or well-conducted people), not disturbed (by epidemics &c.), that is charming (owing to trees, flowers and fruits), the chiefs in which have submitted to him and in which livelihood can be had easily. Yāj. I. 321 and Viṣṇudharmasūtra III. 4–5 are to the same effect. Kām. (IV.