History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.63

v4.c62.63

In the Kauṭilīya V. 3 we meet with these words "In Rājasūya and other solemn (or elaborate) sacrifices the '*rājā*' gets three times the salary given to others who are as learned as he is" (samānavidyebhyas-triguṇavetano rājā rājasūyādiṣu kratuṣu ). Jayaswal ( in ‘Hindu Polity’. part II. p. 136 ) seizes upon this passage to show that the king was a salaried person like the prime minister or the commander-in-chief. The words ‘in Rājasūya and other *kratus*’ should have raised doubts in his mind about his interpretation, but he entirely missed the significance of the passage. Kauṭilya in that passage is *not* referring to the king himself but to his representative or deputy when the king is engaged in numerous ceremonial duties during sacrifices of long duration like the Aśvamedha. The Āp. Śrautasūtra (XX. 3. 1–2), Baudhāyana Śrauta XV. 4, Satyāṣāḍha Śr. XIV. 1. 24–25 state that the *adhvaryu* priest was to deputize for the king when the latter was engaged in the Aśvamedha ³⁷ (which was spread over a period of about two years). The salary referred to by Kauṭilya is to be paid to the adhvaryu when representing the king. Vide H. Dh. vol. II. p. 1232 for this. In X. 3 it is said by Kauṭilya that a virtuous king on the eve of a battle should urge on his soldiers the fact ‘I am a wage-earner like yourselves, this kingdom is to be enjoyed by me along with you. You have to strike down the enemy pointed out by me”.³⁸ Here the theory of the king being a wage-earner or a servant of the State is emphasized in a striking manner.