The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c15.s5.19

c15.s5.19

This principle of indifferentism to caste regulates Śukra's thought not only in regard to the officers and privates of the army but to every branch of the public service. As usual, the Śûdra is normally declared ineligible for a seat on the council of ministers and the traditional preference is accorded to the Brâhmaṇa, failing him to the Kṣatriya, and failing that, to the Vaiśya.⁷ But this stereotyped order of selection for the ten *prakritis* or councillors is thrown overboard in the general discussion on the subject. We are told that only those who are versed in politics and are men of good deeds, habits and attributes, and who are gentle in speech and old in age "should be made members of council irrespective of caste."¹ In making appointments to offices "one should not notice only the caste or race or only the family,"² though the "accident of birth" is of course an important consideration. "Work, character and merit; — these three are to be respected — neither caste nor family.³ Neither by caste nor by family can superiority be asserted." The importance of caste is relegated in the *Sukra-nîti* only to social functions, such as marriages and dinner parties.⁴