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POLITY AND ADMINISTRATION
27
ment.1 Several instances can be traced in the text when the king confiscated the property of the people, banished them or even put them to death being enraged on trifle matters.2 King was the Lord of the royal treasury; treasury of an able king was supposed to be always full. The king was authorised to levy taxes, he could also excuse or allow the same to be paid later." The important officials of the State and members of the personal staff were appointed by the king himself; he fixed their salaries and could also give increment in recognition of their meritorious services. Besides these executive functions, the king was ultimately responsible for the overall social,. cultural and moral well being of his subjects. Very often we find the kings giving donations to the Brahmaṇas, organizing religious debates, administering judgements on religious debates, arranging various festivals and also taking a lively part in the social functions. Another sacred duty of the king was to ensure proper maintenance of the asramas and provide the monks and recluses with their necessary requirements.. The author, re-echoing the sentiments of Kalidasa, asserts, "the hermits are to be protected by the king (raya-rakkhiyāņi ya tavodhanani)", and also believes that any physical injury to the hermits could cause disgrace to the king.
Though not the head of a religion or Church, the king exercised a great influence in the field of religion as well. The heads of the various religious sects always tried to influence the king with their specific tenets with a view to convert him
1. जे पुण अणायारमंता ण परिहरंति ते रण्णा डंडिया --NC. 3, p. 503; also NC. 4. p. 331.
2. रण्णा घोसावियं सोतूण तं अपरिहरंता जहा धणविणासं सरीरविणासं च पत्ता --- NC. 3 p. 503; NC. 1, p. 133.
3. NC. 4, p. 280.
4. NC. 4, p. 350,
5. NC. 3, p. 92.
6. NC. 3, p. 325.
7. NC. 2, p. 444.
8. NC. 2, p. 83; also freen & adìquanfè af-NC. 2, p. 179.
9. NC. 2, p. 83.
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