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powers. Yet a number of checks and balances prevented him to subyert established laws. Sometimes, the cabinet too had some influence on him. The concept of a king was very lofty. He was supposed to serve the country for the benefit of the public. The Ghatiyala Jain inscription9A of V. E. 918 (861 A. D.) thus describes the Pratihar king Kakkuka in these terms "Like a mother he kept his people, whether poor or prosperous, low born or higher, in constant comfort. He never departed from what was right through favour, affection, envy or greed and was not known to discriminate unfairly between two parties in any transaction. Acting on the advice of the best of the twice born (Dvija) he succeeded in making everybody happy.” The same inscription 9B describes the person and character of Kakkuka in these glowing terms. “His smile is like a slightly open flower bud; his speech is sweet, his glance benign, his temper meek without being timid, his friendship firm and anger wild. He never speaks or smiles or acts or looks or remembers or does something or moves or even remains still without his acts benefiting mankind. To children, he is like a father, to youngman like a friend and to the old like a son; by his good appropriate conduct he constantly fosters goodwill in all.” Such was the picture of an ideal king. Similar praise was also bestowed upon other kings in epigraphs or in literary descriptions.
Yuvaraj :
The Yuvaraj was in most cases, but not always, the king's eldest son and held an important position in administrative set up. Many Jain inscriptions of Godawar, Jaisalmer, Jalore etc. mention the name of Yuvaraj along with the ruler, The Nadol platel0 of V.E. 1218 mentions that Yuvaraj Kelhan acted as an associate of his father in granting and confirming the Jagirs. The Sewadi inscription of V. E. 1167 of Asvaraj includes the name of Yuvaraj Katukaraj as a donor in the grant made to the Jain temple of Dharmanath.
9A. Verses 9 to 11 of Ghatiyala Inscription of V. E. 918 (as per footnote 4
above) For text see inscription No. 2 of this book. 9B. ibid, verses 7 to 8. 10. E. I. IX p. 66.
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