Book Title: Jaina Political Thought
Author(s): G C Pandey
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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Page 117
________________ Nevertheless, he admonishes against the practice. But this is a moral advice he does not propose a law abolishing gambling. Protecting people against theives is a prime duty of the king. He must ensure a sense of security among the people which is the highest from of charity. The happiness of the king depends upon that of the poeple for woich normal order must be maintained. The king obtains one sixth of the virtue acruing to the people. It is this that prevents public calamity. Protecting the good and curbing the wicked the king becomes renowned On the contrary, if he imposestaxes out of greed or on petty matters he will certainly go to hell. If he is able to stop and imprison thieves and rogues in accordance with proper justice he would go to heaven. The king should be tolerant towards the people and forgive the harsh words of children as well as the sick and the very old. If one steals clothes etc. from near a well he should be lashed and banished. if one steals grains from the field he should be forced to pay ten times and be banished. For the theft of precious metals, ornaments and costly clothes the thief should be imprisoned for three years. If the thief gives back the goods he should be imprisoned for one year. For kidnapping a child or a girl orfor stealing jewels the thief should be imprisoned for three years. For a repetition of the offence the punishment should be doubled and he should be put in a dark cell. In the first case he was to be released on some one's assurance, in the second case on a written guarantee. Those who stealbooks of the sastras, medicines, cows, and horses were also to be imprisoned. If one breaks into a house by digging a trench and steals by force he was to be forced to dislodge the wealth and banished from the town. Those who help thieves and give them shelter too deserve to be punished. If a thief is armed and about to assault one could use violence against him. Sahasa is an aggression committed in anger and is of three kinds. The punishments for the three grades of sahasa are in terms of fines. The first grade is deserved by those who destroy fields or dams. The middle grade is indicated by the theft of young girls and ornaments. The top grade corresponds, to adultery by force or murder for ornaments. In such a case confiscation of all the property, mutilation, branding, banishment and death are indicated. For the forcible seizing of another's property one was liable to make restitution which would be double the value of the goods robbed. For those who insult respectable people, torment their brother's wife,do not deliver messages, break locks, tamper with boundaries, a fine of hundred silver coins isprescribed.If some one takes a false oath or being a candala touches some one of the upper caste, neddlessly fights with good 104

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