The Positive Background of Hindu Sociology c13.s3.t5.3

c13.s3.t5.3

Among the achievements of Ṛiṣabha (I. 15-17), as narrated by Mahāvīra to king Bimbisāra, we have the promulgation of the following :—(1) the societal stratification according to *varṇas* (colours, castes or professions) and *āśramas* (physiologico-psychological stages of individual personality), (2) the method of reforming or reconstructing the social system, (3) farming, commerce and crafts, (4) judicial matters, (5) statecraft of rulers (*nītimārgaṁcha bhūpānām*), (6) the laying out of towns and villages, (7) all the sciences (*vidyā*) (8) all the activities (*kriyā*) bearing on this world as well as the next. In this enumeration of Ṛiṣabha's promulgations we have in reality Hemachandra's conception of the scope of *Nītiśāstra*.