The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c18.49

c18.49

Candraprabha Sûri's *Prabhâvakacarita*⁷ also brings out a condition of federal-feudalism. The *Anuyogadvârasûtram* inculcates loyalty to government as part of the general resignation which is its philosophy, as that of so many other Jaina tracts. In the *Gadya Cintâmaṇi* written by Vâdibhasimhasûri⁸ in the style of Bâṇabhaṭṭa about the eighth century A.D., King Satyabhadra practically transfers the administration to a scheming minister who usurps the throne. But a posthumous prince recovers his patrimony and shines forth as an ideal ruler. In his Kṣatracūḍāmaṇi¹ the same author speaks of kings as the life of living beings,² and condemns disloyalty as a great sin.³ There is an interesting anecdote that a king, convinced of the futility of worldly grandeur, embraced asceticism to the great grief of Pauras and Jānapadas,⁴ city-folk and country-folk. This seems to have been a convenient division of the people from the political point of view.