Administration and Social Life under Vijayanagar c8.10

c8.10

According to the Vijayanagar kings the primary duties of the state were the preservation of society and the prevention of the conflict of interests between the various castes and communities in the empire. These could be achieved by following the precept of Dharma. Kṛṣṇadēva Rāya explains how it is necessary that Dharma should be adhered to. He says: "A crowned king should always rule with an eye towards Dharma.....skilfully fulfilling your Dharma you get rid of your three-fold debt". And in another place he remarks: "If, when a king is bestowing equal attention to the vargas, dharma (religion), artha (wealth) and kāma (love), by chance he shows more attention to dharma, it would be like allowing surplus water intended to irrigate other fields to overflow and fertilize cornfields. It would only conduce to the enjoyment of the sovereign."⁵ Doubts may arise as to the sin involved in ruling an empire. But Kṛṣṇadēva Rāya has a ready answer to dispel this doubt, and he says that if a king acts in the public interests and in doing his work inflicts punishments on the offenders, he is only following the path of Dharma and not incurring any sin.⁶ The royal author also remarks: "Curiously enough a man is said to be a follower of Dharma though he kills (wrong-doers), one is called a bachelor, Brahmacāri, (though he takes a wife if he is moderate in his love); one is called a truthful man though he utters falsehood (in the special circumstances permitted by the Dharma); he is said to fast though he eats (if he is moderate); one is called a hero though he turns back (from those whom he ought not to fight); one is called rich though he spends money (for worthy objects)."⁷