Sramana 2014 04

Author(s): Ashokkumar Singh, Rahulkumar Singh, Omprakash Singh
Publisher: Parshvanath Vidhyashram Varanasi

Page 61

56 : Śramaņa, Vol 65, No. 2, April-June 2014 vii. improves his own discipline by (continuing his) learning in all branches of knowledge, viii. endears himself to his people by enriching them and doing good to them.
Such a disciplined king should, a. keep himself away from another's wife, b. not take over another's property, c. practice Ahimsā (towards all leaving beings), d. avoid day-dreaming, capriciousness, falsehood and extravagance, e. avoid association with harmful persons, and f. avoid indulgence in harmful activities. A person possessing these thirty six qualities only may be regarded as a king (a leader) in reality. Some of these refer to physical features. For example, the king must not be physically crippled or handicapped. He should have all the signs (lakşaņa) appropriate to the king and his physical aspect should be well formed. The significance of these remarks is two fold. It was an ancient rule that a person was not regarded to be fit for succession if he suffered from severe physical handicap, such as blindness etc. Similarly, it was an ancient belief that the universal emperors possessed certain distinctive physical marks. It was also a popular belief that in some ways one's destiny is writ large in one's physiognomy. In any case, even from a rational point of view, the possession of all faculties as well as of an impressive personality is an initial boost to one who would exercise sovereignty. Physically well endowed, the king should be free from vanity. His personality should be effective, winning the appreciation of all. At the same time he should be compassionate by nature. He should be well educated in different arts as well as in science of peace and war. With perfect endowments of body and mind and with excellent education and training, he should also belong to a pure royal family. He should listen to the elders, love the people and delight in instructing them. He should possess the three powers of authority, council and morale. He