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Monarchy The King: According to Hindu conceptions, the king and state were in no case to be identified. The Hindu states involves a definite territory, a swamin or supreme authority, an organisation for executive government, military power, foreign policy and sound public finance. The king was, therefore, only one of the constituent elements no doubt a very important one - as the head of the state and as the authority in whom was vested the direction of affairs. 34 The kingly office was not a bed of roses and in order to discharge his miscellaneous duties efficiently, a king was expected to acquaint himself with the sacred and secular lores. Thus it is said that the king Ila taught ksatravidya and Dhanurveda to his son Pururava (108.75). Parasurama is an expert in Dhanurveda and the sage Visvamitra is said to have taught the Mahesvarividya, a great vidya with the knowledge of Dhanurvidya as a preceding requirement, Sastravidya, Astravidya, Rathavidya, Hastividya, Asvavidya, Gadavidya and gave the knowledge of Mantras 34 Panikkar K.M.- Origin and evolution of kingship in India, PP.28...; also vide Yajnik M.M., Apanu Pracina Rajyatantra (in Gujarati).

1082 to be recited at the time of catthing and releasing the sastras (123.97,98). The Brahma Purana lays emphasis on the moral discipline of The first and fore the king. A king has to rule righteously. -most duty of the king was considered to be the protection of the subject. The Brahma Purana also joins in the same view (104.62). The Br. Purana further provides the description of kings which shows how highly the moral qualities were valued in a king. Thus it says that in krtayuga, a king Sveta ruled for a thousand years observing the worldly and laukika dharmas and performing vratas. He was very brave, intelligent, righteous and truthful (59.6,7,26). There was another king Indradyumna in the krtayuga who was very holy, clever, proficient in all the sastras, beautiful and sweetspeaking. He was terrible for the enemies and was as unbearable as the Sun. He performed many sacrifices and was proficient in Sankhya, Yoga and Dhanurveda. He was a great Vaisnava and established the idols of lord krsna, Balarama and Subhadra after constructing a temple in their honour at the Purusottamaksetra. He protected the people as his own children. This shows what a high ideal the king placed before his subjects. He was an expert and his reign was very prosperous in holding all the weapons/(43.1-13), (44.1-8), While eulogising Prthu, it is said that the mountains gave him the way and never broke the banner of his chariot. By mere thinking, he was able to produce the corn. In his honour the sutas and the

1083 Magadhas were created. He milched the whole earth and maintainNikumbha, the son of king Haryasva was ed the people (A.4). always engrossed in the dharma proper for the ksatriyas (7.88). King Ila is said to have performed the sacrifice in the Dandaka forest together with his army, retinue and family (108.117,118). King Marut was given the title of Rajarsi (15.7). In the absence of all the relatives, a king should perform the postmorton ceremonies of the dead person as the king is the brother of all the people (220.80). By the performance of his duty and protecting the people, all his sacrifices are protected. A king who vanquishes bad people and protects good people gets the desired results. 35 The prosperity of the king was calculated from the number of horses, elephants and jewels he possessed (111.29, 196. 27). The king was considered to be all powerful and even though his act might be unjust he had the power to perform it (123.34). The king was given the sixth part of one's income.26 The kings were sometimes addicted to vices (108.22). The kingdom of king Bahu who was addicted to vices was captured by the Haihayas, Talajanghas, Paradas and others though afterwards his son Sagara defeated them and regained his kingdom (8.35-43). 35 220.7; cf. Sukra, 1.14; Atri verse 283 Visnudharmottara III 323. 25-26. 36 223.44; vide Altekar A.S.; Op.Cit., P.91.

1084 The Brahma Purana declares that in the Kaliyuga the standard of kings would deteriorate. In the Kaliyuga one who abounds in elephants, horses and chariots would became a king and he would not only not protect the subject but would take away their wealth (229.34,35). The kings would be from the nonksatriya class and would maintain themselves on the sudras. 37 This shows that the king generally belonged to the ksatriya class. A king's wrath was highly feared. The Brahma Purana states that all the trees were burnt on account of the fire emanating from the mouths of the ten pracetasas, the progeny of king Pracinabes -barhis and Suvarna, who practised severe penance for ten thousand years. As a result of this havoc, the wind did not blow for many years, Eventually, Soma went to them and pacified them by giving them his daughter Marisa (2.33). It was considered to be the primary duty of the king to help the sages. The Brahma Purana relates how king Kuvalasva sent his son Brhadasva with his other hundred sons to kill the demon Dhundhu at the roquest of the sage Uttarika (7.74). Many a times the sages helped the kings on many occasions. Thus it is said that the king Sagara obtained the Agneyastra from the sage 37 230.5; missing in ms. 'ka'.

1085 Aurva and defeated his enemies (8.31). King Sagara is further said to have performed hundred Asvamedhas (8.60,61). The king Pururavas was considered to be learned, Brahmavadin, invincible, the performer of Agnihotra, the lord of sacrifices, tranquil, knower of dharma, speaker of truth, and holy (10.1-5). The king Dhanvantari was considered to be a god himself, born in a human form, as a result of the severe penance of his father Dhanu. He was an expert in curing the diseases and he learnt the Ayurveda from the sage Bharadvaja and divided it into eight parts and taught it to his eight pupils (11.35,38). Yati, the eldest son of king Nahusa was a yogin and finally attained Brahman (12.3). His younger brother Yayati is eulogised because of his conquest of the world within twelve nights (12.6). King Bali was born with golden arrows and was a great yogin. Brahma granted a boon to him that he would be a great yogin, his life would have the span of one kalpa, his strength would be uncomparable, he would be the knower of the essence of Dharma, victorious in battle, prominent in Dharma and the promulgator of the four varnas (13.29-32). This shows that the social responsibility was also attached to the king. King Kartavirya is praised at great length. It is said that he practised severe penance and worshipped Dattatreya and obtained four boons, from him as a result of which he possessed thousand hands. He conquered the

1086 whole world and ruled righteously. He was endowed with all the jewels and was called a saprat cakravartin. He became the Pasupala and the ksetrapala (13.160-174). In short, the king has to rule in such a way that people are pleased with him, feel secure in his reign and he as a result gain prosperity and fame.