The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c15.165

c15.165

excellence.¹ A little later he enunciates the doctrine of paternalism in so many words.² But the nineteenth and last canto seems to indicate that the ideal was not always translated into practice. Agnivarman entirely neglects the concerns of state and wastes his time, energy and wealth in luxury and vice. As the fifteenth and sixteenth cantos in particular show, kings usually lived in great splendour. They were generally fond of hunting.³ The Hindu ideal, however, as unfolded by Kâlidâsa, deprecated over-attachment to worldly enjoyment and grandeur. The model kings abdicate in favour of their heirs-apparent and retire to the forest at the approach of old age. Raghu wants to follow the tradition of his predecessors and is persuaded only with the utmost difficulty by his weeping son to remain with him. Then the two share the crown and power.⁴ Dasaratha likewise prepares to instal his son Râma on the throne and depart to the forest.⁵ The prince who is to receive a thorough education including instruction in Dhanurveda or archery⁶ should be installed Yuvarâja or heir-apparent during the lifetime of his father, as in the case of Raghu and his father Dilipa.⁷ As usual, an umbrella is the symbol of sovereignty.⁸ It is interesting to notice that in the last canto, on the death of a wicked king, his widow is recognised regent and ceremonies of inauguration are performed for the child in her womb. Everywhere in the Raghuvamśa a king has a chief minister and other officers. A king should keep his counsels secret.¹ The land-revenue is fixed at one-sixth of the gross produce.² The king must enforce the social order. Râma slays a Śûdra who ventured to perform penances.³ Every king must also have a Purohita versed in Vedic lore as well as in Daṇḍanīti or science of government and able to ward off all supernal calamities and human misfortunes.⁴ In this connection, another work of Kâlidâsa, the Kumârasambhava which moves above the earth, has an interesting passage. Bṛhaspati as chief minister is said to be greater than all the thousand ministers of a deliberative council.⁵ It implies the existence of a chief minister and a huge court. The Meghadûta, the finest of Sanskrit lyrics, has little that is political.