The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c16.s1.16

c16.s1.16

Atri, describing the duties of various castes, wants a king to punish those who forsake their Dharma.⁴ The king should constantly examine the virtue and sin in the various castes.⁵ Those (Brāhmaṇas) who do not perform sacrifices are declared thieves and those who bestow alms on them should be punished by the king.¹ Harita declares as usual that a Kṣatriya should protect his subjects righteously, should duly celebrate sacrifices, and should be devoted to study.² Likhita promises high spiritual rewards to those who excavate tanks, plant trees and perform other such works of public beneficence.³ Vyāsa proclaims the supremacy of Brāhmaṇas in transcendent terms and recommends lavish gifts to them.⁴ Śaṅkha is content with the usual remarks on castes and orders.⁵ Uśanas, Aṅgiras, Yama, Samavrata, Dakṣa, and Śātātapa devote themselves mainly to Śrāddha and other ceremonies. Nor have the rest of the Smritis any political significance. The Dharma Śāstra doctrine exercised a good deal of influence on royal policy. Apart from *a priori* reasons, the inscriptions amply testify to the fact. Not to speak of Vyāsa’s imprecatory verses which occur in numberless grants, the inscriptions sometimes expressly refer to Dharma Śāstras.⁶