Theory of Government in Ancient India (Post-Vedic) c6.154

c6.154

The Mahâbhârata again seems to reflect existing political facts when it stresses the importance of espionage. The spies are the king's eyes through which he is to perceive the acts and intentions of foes, friends and neutrals. The employment and direction of spies is one of the prime duties of the king. They are to be set in cities, provinces and feudatory domains. No one is to escape their glance, not even the king's sons, friends and counsellors. There is no place which is to be free from their ubiquitous presence. They must frequent parks and pleasure-gardens, courts, houses and shops, meetings of scholars and crowds of common people. One of the functions which the spies performed was that which falls to the lot of journalists at present. They had to submit to the sovereign daily reports on public feeling on the doings of the government in the cities and provinces. Thus, aided by his ministers, the king was to examine the hearts and acts of all men including the very ascetics in the forests. The supervision of spies was one of the means on which, says the Mahâbhârata, everything depended.¹