History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.51.1

v4.c62.51.1

In order to magnify the importance of the kingly office, certain works state that the king has in him parts of the gods. For example, Manu says "the Creator created the king with the essential parts taken from Indra, the Wind god, Yama, the Sun, Agni, Varuṇa, the Moon and Kubera the lord of wealth and therefore he surpasses all beings by his majesty (VII. 4-5 and compare Manu V. 96); one should not disrespect a boy-king with the thought 'he is a human being (like others)' for it is a great deity that stands (before people) in human form as a king" (Manu VII. 8 = Śānti 68. 40). This conception goes back to Gautama XI. 32 ('Therefore a king and a spiritual teacher must not be reviled') and Āp. Dh. S. I. 11. 31. 5 ('he shall not speak harsh or abusive words of the gods or of the king'). Manu VII. 3-4 are the same as Śukranītisāra I. 71-72. The Matsyapurāṇa 226. 1 states that the king was created by Brahmā by taking portions of gods for wielding the power of punishment for the protection of all beings. Manu (IX. 303-311) puts forward a slightly diluted theory, viz. the king should possess the majesty of and imitate in his actions the first seven deities enumerated above with the Earth as the 8th and Manu sets out what the eight characteristic actions are. Matsya 226. 9-12 are the same as Manu IX. 303-306. The Agnipurāṇa (226. 17-20) states that as the king exercises the functions of nine deities viz.