Jain Journal 1974 01

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 26

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JAIN JOURNAL
On the important question of the ministers and the need for the king to consult them, Somadeva followed closely Kautilya. The ministers were to be men of character, free from sensual pleasure, reliable, and courageous, but they could never be foreigners. As regards deliberation, secrecy was to be maintained. The king was not to be satisfied with one minister but with many. Somadeva dwells on the problem of ministers also in his Yaśastilaka.59 The details given both in the Nītivākyāmộtam and Yaśastilaka about the ministers are far too many to be recounted here. They are, on the whole, in agreement with those given in Kautilya's Arthaśāstra.60
Somadeva has something to say about the next important element of the State, the army. The army officers were not to be consulted on matters of State policy, since they would be only ready to solve them through war. Further, if they were to be placed in control of civil policy, they might grow proud and powerful.61 The army was the main support of sovereignty. Of the many wings of the army, the elephants were the most important section. Unlike Kautilya, who relied on mercenary troops, Somadeva was of the opinion that hired troops were not of much use. Those soldiers put forth their best not because of prospective monetary gain (by way of a share in the loot or booty) but because of the honour expected from their royal master. That is, Somadeva in the above as well as in his injuction that no foreigner was to be employed a minister, gave expression to the keen sense of patriotism and nationality which had animated the people in those ages. But he was careful in warning the king that the latter should be punctual in paying his forces. What was the use of a cloud if it did not bring forth rain in time 262
While the army was certainly useful, diplomacy was not less important. Allies were to be secured in as many ways as possible. He merely follows Kautilya in the delineation of the foreign policy. 63
Somadeva indentified the State with the king to such an extent that he maintained that the safety of the monarch was the safety of the State. He said that a people may be prosperous but if they have no
69 Yasastilaka, III, pp. 367-374 ; Ghoshal, ibid, p. 468 60 Kautilya, ibid., Bk. I, chs. VIII, IX, X, & XV, pp. 12-17, 26-29. On ministers
read Nitivakyamrtam, pp. 62-135. 61 Somadeva, Nitivakyamrtam, pp. 136-137. 62 Ibid., pp. 207-215. 68 Ibid., pp. 210-216, 324-344.