Samrajya Lakshmi Pithika (Study)
by Artatrana Sarangi | 1984 | 120,842 words
This is a study in English of the Samrajya Lakshmi Pithika (written by Lolla Lakshmidhara). This text represents an encyclopedic manual for emperors, akin to ancient works like Yuktikalpataru and Manasollasa. The Samrajyalaksmipithika encompasses about 3870 verses in addressing topics such as public festivals, governance, warfare (military strategy...
Construction of the King’s private mansion (antahpura)
The private mansion of the king is said to be very strongly built and has four spacious halls (catussala). It contains eight other apartments with strong doors and bolts, fit to serve as the royal residence. The eight apartments are located in the following manner and order. The bath should be to the east, the wind-room to the south-east, the bed-room to the south, the store of weapons to the south-west, the dinning hall in the back (west), 40. for details see Samaranganasutradhara p. 330 41.
540 the caine-house (pasumandira) to the north-west, the treasury of gold (svarnasala) to the north and the temple to the north-east (42.3-6), We are informed that this order and arrangement of these apartments might change but at any rate the palace should not be without the following sixteen apartments as detailed below, (7). Under this arrangement the bath lies to the east followed by bhogamandira (apartment for enjoyment). In the south-eastern, there is the kitchen alongwith the granaries, bed-chamber is to the south coupled with the store-room. The armoury and the swimming-bath (maiianalaya) should be there to the south-west. To the west, the study and the banquet-hall. To the north-west the treasury and the Jade-room (ratna-mandira), to the north, the store of 41 clothes and the scent-saloon, to the north-east the temple and a room for playing dice (dyuta-mandira), (7-11). All these mansions and apartments are connected with suitable roads, We further learn that inside the palace accomodation is provided in cluster of houses for wetnurses (dhatri) slaves and dancer/danseuses in the harem, (12), 41. Arthasastra (2.4.14) mentions a room called aksapatala in the South-East (agneva) which is identified as the accountant's office (see Shamsastri (Eng-translation of) Arthasastra