The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c19.48

c19.48

Often in the course of his narrative Kalhaṇa pauses to moralise on the events in the usual style.³ There is one set of precepts which came down to posterity as the political testament of Lalitâditya and which deserves notice. Its tone is so realistic that it must be held to reflect certain practical tendencies in the administration. “Those who wish to be powerful in this land, must always guard against internal dissension . . .”(IV, 345). “Those who dwell there in the (mountains) difficult of access, should be punished, even if they give no offence, because sheltered by their fastness, they are difficult to break up if they have (once) accumulated wealth” (346). “Every care should be taken that there should not be left with the villagers more food supply than required for one year’s consumption, nor more oxen than wanted for (the tillage of) their fields” (347). If they kept more wealth, they would neglect the commands of the king (348, also, 349—52).