The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c20.120

c20.120

The eleventh century saw another story-book of some literary merit, the Dharmaparīkṣā by the Jain writer Amitagati Sūri, author of Subhāṣitaratnasamdoha, Pañcasaṃgraha, Śrāvakācārya, and other works. In spite of its strong sectarian animosities, the Dharmaparīkṣā adopts the current political maxims of Brāhmaṇas. In its pages, small Rājas flit to and fro. Another Jaina "treasury of stories,” the Kathâkoṣa¹ gives many tales of princes and princesses and shows the small feudalised state to be the norm in Indian politics. At the same time it discloses intrigues, conspiracies and assassination at courts. Kings were sometimes whimsical. A king forcibly seized the wife of another man.² There is another interesting political touch in an earlier story in which a king appoints a favourite merchant keeper of the Great Seal.³