Jain Journal 2004 10

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

Page 10

SATYA RANJAN BANERJEE: POLITICAL AND SOCIAL THOUGHTS
were generally followed. The famous commentaries of Vijñānesvara ( 11th cent. A.D.) and Aparārka (12th cent. A.D.) on Yājnavalkya and of Kulluka ( 11th/12th cent. A.D.) on Manu were very much operative. Hemacandra's Laghvarhan-niti-śāstra was also composed in this climate; and to this period could also be included the Sukra-niti-sāra of Sukrācārya. The Rājadharma-section (xi) of the Kytva-kalpa-tarnu of Laksmidhara was a Digest which was composed during this time to bridge the link between the above two commentators. Gopala's Kāmadhemu is another Digest belonging to this period.
To start with the conception of king, Vijnaneśvara, following Medhātithi, writes under Yājñavalkya:
jñātvā-parādham desanca kālam balam athāpi vā / vayaḥ karma ca vittañca dandam daņdeșu pātayet// (1. 318)
“Though this aggregate of kingly duties has been laid down with reference to the king, this duty should be understood to apply to one to another caste also who is engaged in the task of protecting the province, the district, and so forth.”
Vijñāneśvara then emphasises the duty of the king. As the king has a systein of taxation (kara), and as the people pay taxes to the king, it is the duty of the king to protect the people and to look after the welfare of the people of his kingdom. Aparārka also in the commentary of the same verse of Yājñavalkya justifies the same interpretation. In his opinion, all the duties as have been prescribed for a ksatriya ruler are also applicable to a non-ksatriya ruler. This idea is generated by the maxim (nyāya) which is applicable to the Rajadharma. Aparärka in the twelfth century was very sceptical about the ksatriya-origin of kingship. U.N. Ghosal, on this point, comments
in his History of the Hindu Revenue system, Calcutta. 1929:
"Everyone who contributes wealth expects a benefit accruing to himself, while paying taxes has no other object than self-preservation and therefore one taking the taxes is bound to protect the people. In other words, taxation and protection are the two sides of a bargain between the ruler and his subjects. Thence follows the corollary that