The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c16.s1.t1.28

c16.s1.t1.28

Not that there was no Saturnian golden age of pristine purity and bliss. For, says the *Mahâbhârata*⁷ anticipating by over a millennium the dogmas of Father Lactantius and others, "at first there was neither state nor ruler, neither punishment nor anybody to exercise it. The people used to protect one another through innate righteousness (*dharma*) and sense of justice". But, as among Stoics and Canonists, the "fall" of mankind is accounted for by Hindus also on the basis of a postulate of sin, loss of true religion, *moha*, stupidity, and what not.