Theory of Government in Ancient India (Post-Vedic) c15.55

c15.55

The Educational State. In the Mahâbhârata, in the Bhâgavata and elsewhere, King Pṛithu in the early ages of this planet taught the people how to level the surface of the earth, grow cereals in it, milk cows, and so on. By practical demonstrations he explained the ways of laying out villages and towns; constructing tents and market-places; building houses and cattle-pens, forts and strongholds of various descriptions. He led the way in quarrying stone and working the mines.¹ In the Yogavâsiṣṭha the sage informs Râma that he, Nârada and others, led by Sanatkumâra, as directed by Brahman, had instituted kings in various regions to guide the perplexed people. The Jainas work out in full detail the process of the education of man into the ways of 'civilisation' under the guidance of patriarchs. What the chiefs had done in the childhood of the world, their successors were expected to continue in its adolescence. The government must be the leader and teacher of its wards in everything that concerned their welfare.