History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.405.1

v4.c62.405.1

The king was to have his capital inside a fort or independent of it. Manu VII. 70, 76, Āśramavāsi 5. 16-17, Śānti 86. 6-10, Kām. IV. 57, Matsya 217. 9ff, Śukra I. 213-217 describe where and how a capital was to be built. Kauṭilya (in II. 4) describes at great length how the capital was to be laid out viz. the extent should be demarcated by three royal roads from west to east and three from south to north, the capital should have twelve gates, provided with concealed land and water exits: the chariot roads, the royal roads and roads leading to droṇa-mukha, sthānīya, the rāṣṭra and pastures should be four daṇḍas (16 cubits) in width. He then prescribes the width of roads for various other purposes. Occupying one-ninth of the whole area of the capital, but to the north from the centre of the capital and in the midst of people of all castes the king's own palace should be built facing the east or north. To the north-east of the palace should be the residences of the king's teacher (ācārya), purohita, ministers and the sacrificial place and water reservoir. He then assigns appropriate places round about the palace for the offices of the several superintendents, to merchants, principal artisans, brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, prostitutes, wool workers, śūdras &c. In the centre of the capital were to be constructed apartments for the images of Aparājita, Apratihata, Jayanta and Vaijayanta and the temples of Śiva, Kubera, the Aśvins, Lakṣmī and Madirā (Durgā?).