Kesarimalji Surana Abhinandan Granth

Author(s): Nathmal Tatia, Dev Kothari
Publisher: Kesarimalji Surana Abhinandan Granth Prakashan Samiti

Page 1252

When Bharata after conquering the six divisions of Bharatakşetra became the world-ruler and had amassed considerable fortune, he thought of making gifts. By an indigenous test prescribed by himself, he selected some people to be Brahmanas and prescribed their duties as taking of gifts, worship, learning etc. This act of Bharata had the approval of Rṣabhadeva who had become omniscient at that time but the approval was given with some apprehensions. One noticeable feature of the creation of these four classes is that the Brahmaņas were the last to be created. The first social class to be created was that of the Ksatriyas.
Principles of Taxation
Any political state to be effective has to rely on an efficient system of taxation. The first king laid down a very kind principle of taxation. He thought that taxes should be levied and collected from the people in a manner a cowherd gets milk from the cow. For, while doing so, he does not do any harm to the cow. Similarly, the people should not feel the pinch of tax levied by the king. As a cowherd tends his cattle by way of feeding, healing their wound and protecting the same in various ways, so should the king care for his subject. He should behave towards them with full responsibillity and sense of service in lieu of the taxes at least otherwise also he has to be a perfect ruler.
Jinasena and his Political Philosophy 31
Organisation of the State
After assuming kingship, Rṣabhadeva, the first king, made Ayodhya (not to be fought against as the king and the people were so righteous) his capital for the construction of which Indra was responsible. Then, the king set up villages, towns (pura), ports (pattana) and even forts. He fixed their boundaries as well demarcated the various regions like Kalinga, Avanti, Kerala, etc. He put his whole kingdom under four Maha Mandalikas (like four governors) who were to control thousands of other vassals. Thus we find a beginning towards setting up of civil and military administration under the first king.
World-ruler
Jinasena has also very elaborately described the world-conquest (digvijaya) of Bharata who later became the world-ruler (cakravartin). The conquest of Bharata of all the territory from Himavāna mountain to the sea in the east and from the southern sea to the western sea has been highly eulogized by Jinasena. But Jinasena is not alone in this praise on Bharata. Numerous non-Jaina purāṇas acknowledge in unmistakable terms that this country (India) is named Bharata after this illustrious son of RṚsabhadeva, Bharata. But did Jinasena provide any justification for world-conquest of Bharata? The answer is in the affirmative. The cakravartin could do so on account of his meritorious actions (punya). Acarya Jinasena has clearly said, that it is punya that makes one cakravartin and it is punya that makes one Tirthankara.1
Duties of a King
In the last canto that Jinasena wrote before his death, five duties of a king are enumerated by Bharata to the kings assembled around him. These duties are-(1) Kulānupālana (preservation
१ पुग्पाच्चक्रधरश्रियं विजयिनोमैन्द्री च दिव्ययं ।
पुण्यात्तीर्थकरश्रियं च परमां नैःश्रेयसीञ्चाश्नुते || पुण्यादित्यसुभच्छ्रियां चतसृणामाविर्भवेद् भाजनं । तस्मात्पुण्यमुपार्जयन्तु सुधियः पुण्वाज्जिनेन्द्रागमात् ॥
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( आदिपुराण ३० / १२९ )