Political History of Northern India

SR No.: 001744
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Gulabchandra Chaudhary
Publisher: Sohanlal Jain Dharm Pracharak Samiti Amrutsar
Publication Year: 1954
Total Pages: 482
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, History, & Culture
File Size: 10 MB

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and should be able to display the superiority of himself over others. Under such a king all the constituents of the state conduce to the desired results.2 Such an ideal Rajd or king is considered as an epoch-maker. Thus we see that most of the kings of our period like Harga, Yaśovarman, Muñja, Bhoja, Jayacandra Gahaḍvāla, Pṛthviraja and most of the Caulukyan kings were illustrious instances of the ideal kings.
POLITICAL HISTORY OF N. INDIA FROM JAIN SOURCES
Education and discipline of the King:
mus.
Somadeva has laid emphasis on the discipline of mind and body in the Vidyavṛddhasamuddeśa of his work. He lays down with all seriousness that the real brute on earth is an ignorant person, therefore, knowledge is the prime requisite in all affairs. He prefers anarchy to the rule of an ignoraWe know very well that all the previous authorities on politics, like Kautilya, Kamandaka and other lawgivers, had descanted on anarchy as the most terrible of all possible contingencies, but Somadeva, putting aside the tradition, prefers anarchy to the rule of an uneducated king. He further says that a prince, however well born, should not be installed as heirapparent unless he is otherwise qualified."
A king should get himself taught in four branches of learning which deal with the knowledge of self (Anvikṣiki), Trayi or the knowledge of the four Vedas, Šikṣā, Kalpa, Vyakarana, Nirukta, Chanda, Jyotiṣa and Itihasa, Purana, Mimänsä. Nyaya and Dharmasastra etc., Varta the science of agriculture, cattle-breeding and commerce and Dandaniti or the principles of politics.?
Stressing the importance of these four Vidyas Somadeva says that one who studies Anviksiki examines with reason the strong and the weak. points of the practicable and impracticable and does not despair in calamities. and is not spoilt by good fortune. And as an intelligent man he obtains clearness of insight. By studying the Trayi he becomes exceedingly
1 Ibid., p. 180 : धार्मिकः कुलाचाराभिजनविशुद्धः प्रतापवान्नयानुगतवृत्तिश्च स्वामी । कोपप्रसादयोः स्वतन्त्रता आत्मातिशयवर्धनं वा यस्यास्ति स सलामी ।
स्वाभिमूला सर्वा प्रकृतयो भवन्त्यभिप्रेतप्रयोजना नास्वामिका |
2 Ibid., p. 180 :
3 Ibid, p. 183
4 Ibid., p. 56: 5 Ibid., p. 56:
पालन दुष्ट निग्रहः ।
• Ibid.: असंस्काररत्नमित्र सुजातमपि राजपुत्रं न नायकपदायामनन्ति etc. Ibid p.60 अन्वीक्षकी यी वार्ता दण्डनीतिरिति चतसो राजविथाः ।
राजा कालस्य कारणम् । नवज्ञानात्परः पशुरस्ति । वरमराजकं भुवनं न मृखों राजा ।
p. 61: अन्वीक्षवयध्यात्मविषये त्रयी वेदयज्ञादिषु वार्ता कृषिकर्मादिका दण्डनीतिः साधु