Administration and Social Life under Vijayanagar c6.3

c6.3

According to ancient Hindu political thinkers the State consisted of seven elements of which the king was the most important.¹ The well-being of the State depended largely on the harmonious working of these elements and on their joint effort for the common weal. We have the evidence of the Āmuktamālyada of Kṛṣṇadēva Rāya to show that the king was the most important of the seven members of the body politic. The royal poet emphasises the fact that the emperor (*Sārvabhauma*) should be able to enforce his commands.²