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Monrchy of the Epic Age
125
Throughout the epic literature there is a idea that the taxes paid to the king was his wages. In Mahābhārata we are precisely told that the king was to maintain peace and justice and receive as his wages, the "sixth part" or the vali as his verana or his "remuneration for protection."20 Moreover, a king who failed to protect or administer properly, was regarded as a thief, 21 stealing the sixth part uorighteously. As a result we find frequent use of the epithest "vali-şadbhāga-taskaraḥ" for the unrighteous kings. In Adiparva (chepter 213) Mahabharata, we find an infuriated Brāhmana (who was invoking the aid of Arjuna) expressly reminding Arjuna that a prince failing to protect his subjects was a thief who stole the sixth part."22
Danda, Palana and Rajadharma :
The Epic writers are almost unanimous in holding that coercion was the basis of social organization and discuss the reasons why it was introduced. We find speculations as to the consequences of the absence of coercive authority causing the dissolution of social life due to the activities of strong over the weak; just like the situation of "mätsya-nyāya" preveling in the society. There is a long chapter dealing the origin of coercion, in the form of a dialogue between Vasuhoma and Mändhātr. It tells that in the sacrifice of Kșupa, there was no ruling of danda, consequently all social conventions were violated and a state of war and social anarchy took place. The laws of marriage and property were infringed with disastrous results. So Danda was created by Rudra and Dandaniti composed by Sarasvati.23 hough mixed with fable, the main ethical principles which the Epic thinkers took into consideration are not difficult to find out. Firstly, without coercion the weaks are bound to suffer and all social conventions including the Vedic discipline and all other moral relations are likely to be swept away.24 Secondly this coercive jurisdiction cannot be vested in ordinary subjects since this would but result in the dominance of the same principle i,e tyranny of the strong over the weak 25 The chastisement of the wicked is recognised to be of supreme necessity.
Therefore, all coercive authority is to be vested in the king who is to act impartially and adminster the laws with a view to maintain the life, property and discipline of his subjects. Danda preserves the four orders and defines the limits of activities of individuals and castes 26 Thus, danda or coercion was conceived to be the basis of Rajya or political society. The Epic thinkers, in common with the thinkers of today, regarded it as the primary principle in the evolution of the state. According to them its establishment was marked by the simultaneous evolution of the idea of justice, and justice was regarded as the upholder of the society. The Juris
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