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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POLITICAL HISTORY OF N. INDIA FROM JAIN SOURCES
guards, state officers, hoarders and profiteers. If the king commands prestige and exercises a certain amount of sternness he can render them harmless. It is the foremost duty of a king to deal with them ruthlessly.
Another duty of king is to protect the people from the calamities of all sorts. We learn from the Puratana-prabandha-sangraha that Visaladeva Vaghela averted a famine by timely help.3 The king also defended the country from foreign invasions and offered protection to the people from hostile incursions of his enemies.
Yet another duty of the king was to patronise arts, education, etc. We learn that the Paramāra kings from Muñja to Jaitugideva were the patrons of learningJayasinha and Kumārapāla were the great promoters of learning and arts.
In short kings of this period did their best to achieve the happiness of their subjects which ultimately meant their own happiness and prosperity.
In performing their duties the kings are advised to levy taxes according to the condition of the country, to speak words according to the occasion, to spend money according to the state income and to show their pomp and show according to their wealth and might. Rights and Privileges of the King:
Somadeya says that king is the incarnation of tripuruşamūrli, therefore, he is the visible god in the world. In his youth (Kaumara) he is like God Brah man receiving the education in Gurukulas. After consecration he becomes like God Nārāyaṇa pleasing the world with his virtues and, at the time of expeditions, he looks like God Pinakapani (Sankara). Thus the king enjoys a high status and dignity. He takes the place of Indra towards his favourites and the place of Yama against the wicked. He is advised to maintain his prestige and claims to be honoured.?
Thus, we find in our period, that the king had full powers over the kingdom and his subjects. He, no doubt, ruled over his territory with the help and advice of a council of ministers who were his immediate advisers, but the ultimate responsibility of affairs as a whole rested with him. He
1 Ibid., p. 99: adhatna27592HI7faELENTITETUESHletfuzatgaFT राष्ट्रस्य कण्टकाः।
2 Ibid., p. 100: Cara TIB GET A T 471-T TIETFOTAT: 3 SJGM., II, p. 80. • SJGM., X, p. 30. 5 See supra, pp. 90-118, Chap. on the Paramāras.
& Nitivā., p. 271: C : ara: argiTE TAUCERETH TITTET: : कार्यः। ऐश्वर्यानुरूपो प्रसादो विधेयः ।
? Ibid., pp. 315-317.