Sambodhi

SR No.: 014027
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Dalsukh Malvania, H C Bhayani, Nagin J Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1980
Total Pages: 304
Language: English, Hindi, Gujarati
Classification: Seminar & Articles
File Size: 18 MB

Page 88

Ganesh Thite
The qualifications for ministers as described in the Sivatattvaratnakara (5. 25. 56 ff ), are quite similar to those mentioned in the Ajñāpatra (kulināḥ śrutasampannāḥ śucayascānurāginaḥ sürā dhira virāgāśca nitiśāstraviśāradaḥ 1|46|| pragalbhavādinah prājñaḥ rāgadveşavivarjitāḥ âye vyaye ca nipunāḥ svāmikâr yaratah sada 1/47/1 Cp. also Mānasollāsa 2.52 ff). In this context the Ājñāpatra adds a rule which, however, is not found either in the Sivatattvaratnākara or Mānasollãsa. According to this rule, a king should pot appoint even a fully qualified person directly on the highest post of a minister. He should rather increase his status step by step (30.20 ff).
Various general rules of behaviour of a king are given in the Ājñāpatra. Thus a king should be always alert about his own protection (16.1 f). He should take his meals and drink water at regular times and observe these timings (17.2). He should never consume any intoxicatory thing (17.2). He should have a good knowledge about weapons, clephants, horses, archery etc. (17.7 ff) The Sanskrit encyclopaedic texts like Mānasollasa, Sivatattvaratnākra, gāmrājyalakşmipithikā also emphasise upon this point. Moreover, these Sanskrit texts give a detailed account of weapons, horses, elephants, archery etc. In contrast to the Sanskrit texts, the Ajñāpatra does not give detailed information on these subjects. Moreover the datailed treatment of various lores in the Sanskrit Encyclopaedic texts is often characterised by numerous taboos, rituals, superstitions etc So the treatment of various lores in Sanskrit Encyclopaedias is very much important from the point of view of history of religious rather than that of political lores. A further point worth noticing is that the Sanskrit encyclopaedias give numerous details of various arts and crafts which form a part of enjoyment of a king. The Ajñāpatra, however, does not give any such details. According to the Ājñāpatra a king may learn various arts but should not waste his time in performing them (17.4 ff). Moreover, he should not even attend the programmes of music and dance very often except at the time of religious festivals, according to the Ajñāpatra (17. 10). The Ajñāpatra further warns a king not to be addicted to the enjoyment of arts like music etc. (17.21). The Ajñāpatra, like the Sivatattvaratnākara allows a king to maintat poets in the court. But it does not give (as the Sivatattvāratnākara does) any details of poetics. The Ajñāpatra only says that a king should not let the poets enter into political affairs (18.9) and that a king should not be fond of praises (18.9). The Ājñāpatra says that a king should not indulge in any kind of "joking" (18.18) and this point is unique. In short the king before the Ājñāpatra is very simple living, high thinking, and devoted to duty alone, while the king before the Sanskrit Encyclopaedic texts is mainly engrossed in enjoyment having practically no problems to solve.