________________
STATE AND ADMINISTRATION
333
might have figured more prominent than others like forts and allies, but, without the mutual integration and co-operation of all these seven, no government of the state at that time could run efficiently.
Some powerful states as referred to above tried to maintain a closeknit state and a balance in the several constituents of the state, but the country was partitioned into a large number of kingdoms. In the majority of states there was a distinct sign of disintegration. Theoretically the state was conceived as an organism, different limbs functioning in the interest of the whole body politic, but there was lack of proper harmony among the different constituents of state.
Form of Government: The states in ancient India were divided into two forms, monarchical and republican. The republican form of Government, however, ceased to exist before the Gupta era. In our period we find only the monarchical form of Government.
Let us now pass on to the polity of the state.
III. The King: The king of our period is considered to be the pivot of government and is the centre of all political, military, administrative and judicial activities. Somadeva says that "without him not a single prakrti (constituent) can function properly, however, well it may be equipped."1 Vadībhasimha, another Jain author, says that the king is the very life of living beings and good and evil deeds done against him, certainly affect the fate of his subjects. Disloyalty towards him is indeed a great sin. The king is regarded as the supreme deity for he protects the mortals as well as the gods; the gods are not able to protect even themselves. A real king is he who is the repository of all the merits.3 A good king is expected to be a man of religious temperament, with good family traditions, endowed with pure character, dignity and valour. His livelihood should be based on righteous means. He should be free to wield his power of wrath and mercy
1 Nitivā. (MDG., XXII), p. 221: 3THFT SET: HTET 3719 Artta न शनवन्ति । 2 Kșatracūdāmaņi, Canto I, Vs. 46-48:
राजानः प्राणिनां प्राणास्तेषु सत्स्ववे जीवनात् । तत्तत्र सदसत्कृत्यं हि लोक एव कृतं भवेत् ।। एवं राजद्रुहां हन्त सर्वद्रोहित्वसंभवे । राजध्रगेव किं न स्यात्पंचपातकभाजनम् ॥ रक्षन्त्येवात्र राजानो देवान् देहभृतोऽपि च ।
देवास्तु नात्मनोऽप्येवं राजा हि परदेवता ॥ 3 Nitivū., p. 57: TUG ATT JUTT a 9241
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
