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Political Conditions and Institutions
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or peacock. Pippahalivana, the Moriya capital is identical with the Nyagrodhavana or Banyan Grove mentioned by Hiuen Tsang.
POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS The age of Lord Mahāvīra witnessed a number of important changes in the political sphere. The tribal stage of society gradually disappeared, giving place to organized states. Magadha, Vatsa, Kośala and Avanti became very powerful. The position and functions of the king gained in importance. The Samiti of the Vedic period was replaced by the Council of Ministers. The income of the states considerably increased on account of the induction of new resources. The government machinery became complicated and new officers were appointed to meet the new requirements.
We may divide the states of this period into two groups, monarchical and non-monarchical. We shall first discuss the government machinery of the monarchical states. MONARCHICAL GOVERNMENT King and Kingship
In ancient India, a king was absolutely necessary and was considered an essential factor for the well-being of the people. He was regarded as the head of men.2 Generally, the rulers of these monarchical states belonged to thc Kshatriya caste. Though an absolute despot, the king was to follow the ten prescribed traditional duties of the king (dasarājadhamme) : giving alms, a moral course of life, sacrifice, truthfulness, mildness, self-denial, forgiveness, not to cause any pain to anybody, patience, and a yielding disposition. These are but prescriptions of the general Buddhistic morality applicable to all lay disciples.
According to the Ovaijā, king Künika- jätasatru had all the qualifications of the royalty; he was honoured by the people, he belonged to a purc Kshatriya family, was duly consecrated on the thironc, and was compassionare. He was a warden of the marchers, an upholder of peace, and a proiccior of the janapada. He was the inasier of palaces, hed. 1. Rāji muhan marussaran, S:..Vi, p. 107; Mi, V1, 35. S. . FSONB, p. ico.
