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Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin No. 4
world) so, I desire for all men.4" He wants the newly subdued Kalingas to grasp the truth that the king is to us a father, "he loves us even as he loves himself, we are to the king even as his children." In his P. E. VI. he further adds that "just as a man feels confident after entrusting his children to the care of a skilful nurse, so have I entrusted the Rajukas with the task of nourishing and promoting the happiness and welfare of my people."5
To him, Public service was a debt. We gather from R. E. VI. that he gave himself to people's business at all hours and places. He says "A long period has elapsed during which in the past administrative business or information was not attended to at all hours. So, by me the arrangement has been made that at all times, whether I am eating, or in the harem, or in the bed-room, or in the ranches, or in the cow-pen or in the pleasure groves, everywhere the reporting officials should make known to me the peoples' afliairs. I never feel satisfied in my exertion and despatch of business...for nothing is more essential than the welfare of the people... And, whatsoever efforts I make they are made in order that I may obtain release from my debt to fellow human beings. He resorted to an exten-s sive touring of his vast empire not for the sake of sport or pleasure a did his predecessors, but for seeing in person the working of the affairs of the state and the weal of people? (R. E. Vill.). "A king with these ideas of his position and responsibility is practically more a representative
6.
4. सबे मुनिसे पजाममा। अथा पजाये इछामि हकं किंति सबेन हितसुखेन
हिदलोकिक पाललोकिकेन यूजेवू ति, तथा'' 'मुनिसेसु पि इछामि इकं ।
S. K. R. E. I. 5. अथा हि पजं वियताये धातिये निसि जितु अस्वथे येति वियत धाति चघति मे
पजं सुखं पलिहटवे हेवं ममा लजूका कटा जानपदस हितसुखाये । P. E. IV. अतिकातं अंतरं न भूतप्रव सवं कालं अथकमे व पटिवेदना वा । त मया एवं कतं । सवे काले भुंजमानस मे ओरोधनम्हि, गमागारम्हि, वचम्हि व विनीतम्हि च, उयानेसु च सवत्र पटिवेदका स्टिता अथे मे जनस पटिवेदेथ इति । सर्बत्र च जनस ग्रथे करोमि ।"नास्ति हि मे तोसो उस्टानम्हि अथसंतीरणाय वा कतष्यमते हि मे सर्वलोकहितं । नास्ति हि कंमतरं सर्वलोकहित्या । य च किंचि पराक्रमामि अहं भूतानं आनंणं गछेयं । इध च नानि सुखापथामि परत्रा च स्वगं आराधयंतु त । R. E. VI. ''जानपदस च जनस दस्सनं धमानुसस्टी च धंमपरिपुछा च तदीपया। R. E. VIII.
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