The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c16.s2.t2.13

c16.s2.t2.13

Secondly, we have the doctrine of *sârva-bhauma* expressed in the more popular and conventional conception of *samrât*. The *Mahâbhârata*, for instance, uses this category in order to convey the idea of a world dominion. "There are *râjâs* (kings) in every home (state) doing what they like," we read in the Book on *Sabhâ*,³ "but they have not attained to the rank of *samrât*; for that title is hard to win." And this rank is at last won by Yudhisthira in the epic. Yudhisthira would thus be the *Veltro* of the *Divine Comedy*.