Theory of Government in Ancient India (Post-Vedic) c13.s1.35

c13.s1.35

When the Hindus lost their political independence after the eleventh century, they concerned themselves less and less with theories of government. They continued the ancient spiritual and literary tradition but in their new works politics occupied an insignificant place. For instance, the Adhyâtma Râmâyaṇa, which, though inserted into the Brahmâṇḍa Purâṇa, is a book by itself composed about the 14th century, devotes itself primarily to the propagation of the Vaiṣṇava faith. It borrows its plot from Vâlmîki but its tone and spirit are entirely different. It strikes a note of pessimism at the very outset and laments the rottenness of the *Kali* age when Kṣatriyas and Vaiśyas have left off their duties and Śûdras have taken to Brâhmaṇa functions.¹ Political matters are discussed more like family than like state matters.²