History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.399

v4.c62.399

The flourishing state of a kingdom well governed by a good, well-equipped and active king is very graphically described in the Rāmāyaṇa (II. 100. 43-46) ‘I hope your country is full of hundreds of *caityas* (platforms for sacred trees) and of people who are well-placed; is rendered charming by temples, *prapās* (sheds where water is distributed to travellers *gratis*) and tanks; in which men and women are joyful: which is set off to advantage by merry gatherings and festivals; the whole extent of which is well cultivated; which is full of cattle and free from injury (to beings); which does not depend upon rains alone (for its crops); which is beautiful, free from beasts of prey and all kinds of dangers; which is endowed with mines; which is free from wicked men and enjoys prosperity and happiness’. The Ādiparva chap. 109 (cr. ed. chap. 102) also contains a fine description of a well-governed and prosperous country. The country was to be full of public wells, gardens and meeting-halls (sabhā). The Viṣṇu-dharmottara I. 13. 2-12 contains an ideal description of ancient Ayodhyā. ‘It was endowed with hundreds of parks; it celebrated festivals and held gatherings of people; its population was free from disease and had valiant men; it always resounded with the music of lutes, flutes and tabors; it had fair complexioned, charming *hetarai* clever in brilliant conversation; its population was always gay; it resounded with the recitation of the Veda and was endowed with companies of brāhmaṇas; its market rows were full of men that had applied scents to their bodies; there was not a man there who was wretched, dirty or emaciated; it stretched for three yojanas on the bank of the Śarayū and was ten yojanas in the middle.’