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 90

Ganesh Thitr
information given in the Yuktika'pataru is, as usual, full of superstitious details. Moreover the Ajñāpatra gives details of Navy along with its military and economic aspects and this is totally absent in Sanskrit literature. The Ajñāpatra considers Navy to be a 'limb' of a state (råjyānga) (58.1). “One who possesses horses, commands over the land; similarly one who possesses Navy, commands over the sea. Therefore one should develop navy" 58.1 ff). In the sea, nobody should disturb any merchants according to the Ajñāptra (59.6). At the time of a Naval battle, an enemy is likely to pretend surrender but at such a time, one should not blindly belive in it immediately (60.10 ff). Wood required for the sake of preparing ships etc. is to be taken from the forests with the permission of the king. The trees privately owned should not be cut for this purpose, without any compensation. For trees can not be cultivated within a year or two. Moreover, people consider them to be just like their children and if the king violates them he will be guilty of troubling his own people. (61.16-62.1). Although these thoughts are not mentioned exactly in the same way in the Sanskrit texts, the main thought can be found in Sanskrit texts. A king is expected to please the people in bis state and not to trouble thom. The word rājan meaning king is connected with the root rañj to please (cf. Raghuvamśa 4.12 : yatha prahladanāccandraḥ pratāpāıtapano yatha/ rathaiva so'bhüdanvarthah rājā prakrtiranjanät, /). Kautalya in his Arthasāstra says that a king should take pleasure in pleasing his people and should not take pleasure out of the trouble of his people (cf. prajāsukhe sukham rajñaḥ prajānam ca hite hitam , nātmapriyam hitan räjñaḥ prajānāṁ tu priyam hitam // Arthaśāstra 19.34). In Manusmrti it is said that a king who tortures the people in his state would be destroyed along with his relatives very soon, (mohad rājā svarāştram yah karşa yaryanavekşaya so'cirādbhras yate rājā jivitācca sabandhavah // 7.111). Bhişma advises Yudhisthira nct to obtain wealth from his people in an illegal way; for it would be like one, desirous of milk would cut the breasts of a cow (Mahābhārata VIII. 72 : māsmādharmena läbhena lipsethă stvaṁ dhanagamam //12/ udhaschind yaddhi yo dhenvāh kșirărthi na labhet payah / ever rāştramayogena piditam na vivardhate /16/).
The polity in the Ājñāpatra is based on dharma (Religion) as is the polity in the Sanskrit texts in general. Thus it is said in the Ajñāpatra that a king should follow the traditional, hereditory religion; worship the deities, honour the holy people etc, give support to the religious places and monasteries in the state for their maintenance (15.1 ff). It is specifically said that a king should provide for the livelihood of those who are learned in Veda, etc. and accept their benedications (15.11 ff). He should however, not take interest in hypocretes and charlatans. He may give them