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STATE AND ADMINISTRATION
a while they abruptly run away or become adversaries.1 Councillors should be of a pure character for lack of character vitiates all personal merits and qualities. They should be born of high family for the low born person never feels shy after doing misdeeds. They must be free from all carnal passions (avyasanin), for passionate councillors are like mischievous. elephants. They should be reliable and courageous (avyabhicārin) for persons who cannot stand at the time of adversity are useless. They must be endowed with all theoretical and practical knowledge (adhitäkhilavyavahara-tantra), for what is the use of those who do not know the interest of the king and cannot remove his difficulties. They should also understand the military problems (astrajñam), for how can they protect the kingdom if they do not possess knowledge of their own protection ?"
Somadeva, however, does not prescribe any tests to ascertain the character of councillors. However, these are general rules for the selection of councillors. But in the selection of particular councillors like sandhivigrahika, purohita, senapati and others, Somadeva has laid some special Regarding a sandhivigrahika or an ambassador he says that the knowledge of grammar and logic, influential position, expressiveness, power of fluent talking, genius, discretionary power, knowledge of most of the languages and alphabets, knowledge of time, place and varjäśrama, intelligence in rapid reading and writing, are the essential qualities of an ambassador.
In describing the qualifications of purohita, Somadeva follows Kautilya. He says that the purohita should be a person whose family and character are highly spoken of, who is well educated in the Vedas and the six Angas, is skilful in reading portents, providential or accidental, is well versed in the science of government and who is obedient and who can prevent calamities, providential or human.
351
Regarding the send pati he says that he should be born of a high family, pure in character, endowed with genius, devotion, truthfulness, purity and
Ibid. p. 186 नागन्तुके पर्थाधिघर प्राणाधिकारो वास्ति यस्ते खित्वा गन्तारोऽपकर्तारो वा
2 Ibid., p. 108, sutra 7.
3 Ibid., p. 109, sutra 8.
4 Ibid., p. 109, sutra 9.
5 Ibid., p. 109, sutra 10.
6 Ibid., p. 110: sutra 12.
7 Ibid., p. 110: sutra 13.
8 Ibid., p. 379.
9 Ibid., p. 160.
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