History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.305.3

v4.c62.305.3

These requirements show that the country must be prosperous, well-stocked with the necessaries of life and well suited to defence. There is also some difference of opinion among the smṛti writers about the composition of the population. Manu VII. 69 requires that the kingdom should consist mostly of āryas (āryaprāya), while Viṣṇu Dh. S. III. 5 holds that a country should be peopled mostly by vaiśyas and śūdras. In another place (VIII. 22) Manu says that that country in which śūdras abound, which is full of atheists and void of dvijas is overwhelmed by disease and famine and perishes. Similar provisions are found in the Matsyapurāṇa 217. 1-5, Viṣṇudharmottara II. 26. 1-5, Mānasollāsa (II. 3. verses 151-153), Nītivākyāmṛta (Janapadasamuddeśa p. 191 which defines rāṣṭra, viṣaya, deśa, janapada &c.). The Matsyapurāṇa 217. 5 and Viṣṇudharmottara II. 26.5, (*evaṁvidhaṁ yathālābhaṁ rājā viṣayamāvaset*) point out that every rāṣṭra cannot be expected to possess all the qualities mentioned by them and that the king must do the best with such qualities as his country possesses. Kauṭilya II.