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344
POLITICAL HISTORY OF N. INDIA FROM JAIN SOURCES
ambassadors and gratified dependants and admirers. After this, on certain occasions, he visited the temples of the city and inspected the departments of public works. He returned at mid-day to his palace and, after giving food and alms to mendicants, took his meal surrounded by friends and pleasure companions. Then he retired to his picture galleries (danta valabhika) for enjoyment and relaxation. There he enjoyed music and poetic talks. In the afternoon he attended the general court (asthānamanḍapa) where he transacted the business of state, and also interviewed the foreign. kings and gave darkan to the general public who came to see him. Sometimes, purely as a part of royal duty, he attended wrestling matches, elephant fights and other such pastimes. Thus he passed the day and then. retired to sleep at last.1
Various checks and balances:
Although the king was practically supreme in the administration of the state, the established laws of the land exercised considerable influence on royal despotism. Somadeva says that king should always be willing to receive advice and the minister should be prepared to offer sound advice. The king is advised not to outgo the counsel of his ministers for it is impolitic for a king to neglect the counsels of his ministers. Such a king will soon find himself overwhelmed by foes. His obstinacy will plunge him into ruin. These statements certainly show that the king in his administration is bound to take help of his ministers.
Next, the kings of our period always respected the traditional laws of the land which were sacred and inviolable. If a king failed in his duty and acted in contravention, a conflict between the king and the people was inevitable. The next check over the king seems to be the feudal nobility and prominent persons of the state who, backed by the people, could defy the tyrannical rule of the king by raising an armed rebellion.
Another check that influenced the king's policies, was the public opinion which was generally conveyed to the king through the state officials and spies. Sometimes, he himself went out to know the public opinion. The Prabandha-cintamani mentions three such kings viz., Bhoja Paramāra, Kumarapala and Jayasihha Siddharaja who were always anxious to know the public opinion. By this, the king always remained conscious of the
1 Tilakamaйjari (Kavyamālā 85), pp. 62-71; Kumarapala-pratibodha, Canto PP. 422-443.
2 Nitiva., p. 57, sutra 39.
• Ibid, p. 108: दुष्प्रणीतो हि दण्डः कामक्रोधाभ्यामज्ञानाद्वा सर्वविद्वेषं करोति ।
3
4
SJGM., I, p. 48, fn. 75.
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