The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c6.59

c6.59

The Rājan is well-established in the Ṛigveda and his character can be inferred from a number of hymns. He is the ‘guardian of the people,’ their ‘ruler.’² The gods Mitra and Varuṇa are invoked to keep the splendour of dominion, guarding the dominion that lasts for ever.³ Again, they are kings, guards of mighty, everlasting order.⁴ The authority of the king is binding. A hymn in the first Maṇḍala refers to Agni as claiming obedience like a king.⁵ “I am the royal ruler,” says Varuṇa, “mine is empire, as mine who sway all life are all the immortals. Varuṇa’s will the gods obey and follow. I am the king over folk of sphere sublimest.”⁶ There, again, Trasadasyu, chief of the Purus, claims divinity for himself. “……The Gods associate me with the acts of Varuṇa:… …I am the king Varuṇa; on me (the gods) bestow those principal energies (that are) destructive of the Asuras;……I am Indra, I am Varuṇa, I am those two in greatness……”⁷ Obedience seems sometimes to be forced.¹ On the other hand, a hymn in the fourth Maṇḍala refers to a Râjan who dwells in peace and comfort in his own house, to whom holy food flows richly and to whom the people freely pay homage.² The rule of a king is expected to be beneficent to the people. A king is seen bestowing favours on those worthy of them.³ When the resplendent Agni is invoked as the protector of the people in grâmas, one detects an analogy with the function laid upon a king.⁴ Elsewhere, however, the king is spoken of as the master of the riches of his own subjects and of hostile people. The king was expected to lead in war. A hymn addressed to Soma Pavamâna refers to him as sitting like a king above the hosts.⁵ The king is sometimes described as purâm bhettâ, the sacker of forts or such earthworks as were thrown up at the time.⁶ The god Indra, doubtless after the earthly ideal, goes intrepidly from fight to fight, destroying castle after castle, with his strength.⁷ Agni is to win all the forts and treasures.⁸