Pre-Buddhist India: A Political, Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey of Ancient India Based Mainly on the Jataka Stories c4.t1.78

c4.t1.78

Having all these dangers in view, the king was constantly advised to be up and doing everything for the welfare of his subjects. Some of the practical aspects of these teachings we have already noticed in the long extracts given in the *Tesakuṇa Jātaka*.⁴ A few others may here be noticed. The king was asked to mould his governmental policy according to the opinion of his subjects which counted a great deal, as we shall see. He must personally see things with his own eyes and give due regard to well-meaning suggestions of others.⁵ And with this end in view perhaps we find the kings of the *Jātakas* going out in disguise—*incognito*—to see for themselves and hear what his subjects do or talk about.⁶