The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c16.s1.t3.31

c16.s1.t3.31

In order that the law may be seriously recognized as command Śukra stipulates that the greatest amount of publicity should be given to it. For instance, it is the duty of the sovereign to have the laws announced by the state drum³ or have them inscribed in esplanades as written notices. The documents embodying these commands (*śâsana-patra*)⁴ are to bear the king's signature, date, etc. Laws thus being the promulgations of the state, we read further in the *Śukra-nîti*⁵ that the king is the "maker of the age", the "cause of time" and of the good and evil practices, and that since the ruler is the dictator of virtues and vices, people make it a point to practise that by which he is satisfied. Besides, as law is upheld by sanction we can easily understand why Śukra advises the sovereign to make use of his terrible weapon⁶ in order to maintain the people each in his proper sphere.