Sambodhi 1980 Vol 09

Author(s): Dalsukh Malvania, H C Bhayani, Nagin J Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 88

86
Ganesh Thite
The qualifications for ministers as described in the Sivatattvaratnakara (5. 25. 56 ff), are quite similar to those mentioned in the Ajñāpatra (kulīnāḥ śrutasampannāḥ śucayascānurdginah sură dhira vīrāgāśca nitiśāstravisāradaḥ ||46|| pragalbhavādinaḥ prajñaḥ ragadveşavivarjitāḥ āye vyaye ca nipunäh svāmikär yarataḥ sada 1/47|| Cp. also Mānasollāsa 2.52 ff). In this context the Ājñāpatra adds a rule which, however, is not found either in the Śivatattvaratnākara or Mānasollāsa. According to this rule, a king should not appoint even a fully qualified person directly on the highest post of a minister. He should rather increase his status step by step (30.20 ft).
Various general rules of bebaviour of a king are given in the Ajñāpatra. Thus a king should be always alert about his own protection (16.1 f). 'He should take his meals and drink water at regular times and observe these timings (17.2). He should never consume any intoxicatory thing (17.2). He should have a good knowledge about weapons, elephants, horses, archery etc. (17,7 ff) The Sanskrit encyclopaedic texts like Mānasollasa, Sivatattvaratnākra, sāmrājyalakṣmipithikā also emphasise upon this point. Moreover, these Sanskrit texts give a detailed account of weapons, horses, elephants, archery etc. In contrast to the Sanskrit texts, the Ājñāpatra does not give detailed information on these subjects. Moreover the datailed treatment of various lores in the Sanskrit Encyclopaedic texts is often characterised by numerous taboos, rituals, superstitions etc. So the treatment of various lores in Sanskrit Encyclopaedias is very much important from the point of view of history of religious rather than that of political lores. A further point worth noticing is that the Sanskrit encyclopaedias give numerous details of various arts and crafts which form a part of enjoyment of a king. The Ajñāpatra, however, does not give any such details. According to the Ājñāpatra a king may learn various arts but should not waste his time in performing them (17.4 ff). Moreover, he should not even attend the programmes of music and dance very often except at the time of religious festivals, according to the Ājñāpatra (17. 10). The Ājñāpatra further warns a king not to be addicted to the enjoyment of arts like music etc. (17.21). The Ajáāpatra, like the Śivatattvaratnakara allows a king to maintatia poets in the court. But it does not give (as the Śivatattvāratnākara does)! any details of poetics. The Ajñāpatra only says that a king, should not let the poets enter into political affairs (18.9) and that a king should not be fond of praises (18.9). The Ājñāpatra says that a king should not indulge in any kind of joking" (18.18) and this point is unique. In short the king before the Ājñāpatra is very simple living, high thinking, and devoted to duty alone, while the king before the Sanskrit Encyclopaedic texts is mainly engrossed in enjoyment having practically no problems to salve.