Essay name: Samrajya Lakshmi Pithika (Study)
Author:
Artatrana Sarangi
Affiliation: Savitribai Phule Pune University / Department of Sanskrit and Prakrit Languages
This is a study in English of the Samrajya Lakshmi Pithika (written by Lolla Lakshmidhara) representing an encyclopedic manual for emperors. The Samrajyalaksmipithika encompasses about 3870 verses in addressing topics such as public festivals, governance, warfare (military strategy), and rituals associated with the Tantric worship for the deity Samrajya-Lakshmi.
Chapter 4 - King and his Paraphernalia
42 (of 91)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
447
otherwise, he may not be able to destroy his enemies
like the setting sun who, with his fadding light is no
darkness. It is the
more capable of destroying darkness.
responsibility of a king to attend to diverse duties at
the same time like a goldsmith, who brings together
separate pieces of gold and makes an ornament out of
those. Thus, simulataneously when he has to attend a
big and a small work, he should act according to the
maxim of the 'neddle and the cauldron' (Suci-katahanvaya)
(do the small thing first and take up the big work
later) (15-21).
In critical situations when he stands to suffer
both ways, by attacking the enemy or by being attacked,
he should brood over the maxim of the 'Plantain-leaf and
the thorn' (kadal Ipatrakantakanvaya) and act in such
a way that the loss is completely avoided. We think,
this maxim needs little elaboration.
A planta in-leaf
19 whether it falls upon a thorn or the thorn falls on the
leaf in both cases, it is the leaf which stands to suffer.
Thus brooding over, the king should devise some means to
19.
yadatmapatena ripau ripupatena catmani /
bhaved ubhayatha hanissvasyaiva nrpatestada //
(76.22)
