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STATE AND ADMINISTRATION
343
had all the despotic powers in deciding the policy in war or peace. He appointed all governors, generals and other important civil and military officers who were responsible to him alone. He had every right to deal with the treasonous officers and subjects without the least delay. Thus we see that Kumāra pāla punished Vikramasimha the Paramära of Candravatīk and Hammīra degraded and blinded Dharmasimha. He also distributed honorific offices and favours in recognition of meritorious services or literary and artistic works of distinction. We hear that Muñja conferred on Dhanapala the title of Sarasvati 3 and Kumārapāla conferred the title of Kalikalasarvajña on Hemacandra and on Ambada the title Rajapitamaha.4 The kings of our period had also certain rights to introduce new reforms and eliminate taxes, depriving the state of a large income. Thus, Kumārapāla announced non-killing to all beings (amārighosana ) and withdrew the rights of the state to confiscate the property of those who died childless. 5 Jayasimha Siddharāja removed the tax known as Bāhuloda which is said to have yielded 72 lakhs of rupees to the state.
Though the king had so many rights yet he was advised to seek the counsel of his ministers and other high officers in matters of administration and in a state of emergency. It is also said that he should act according to the established laws and customs of the country. Daily Routine :
Somadeva, in the chapter of the Divisanuşthāna of his work Nitiva kyāmyta, describes the general rules of daily routine of a layman which consists of ethical teachings. But some glimpses of the king's daily routine are obtained from the Tilakamañjari of Dhanapāla and the Kumārapala-Pratibodha of Somaprabhasūri also. From the description it appears that the king devoted the first quarter of the day in personal purification and devotion to gods and religious teachers and then he granted the interviews to all important persons and officers like religious Brahmanas, prime minister, secretaries, kings, feudatories, kinsmen and friends and other citizens. He held some sort of a private darbar with them. Here the king dealt with important and secret business of the state, discussed the matter with foreign
1 See supra p. 191. 2 See supra p. 145. 3 See supra p. 94. 4 See supra pp. 271 and 281. 5 See supra p. 279 ff. 6 See supra p. 258. ? Nitivā., pp. 251-258.
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