Sramana 2014 04

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

Page 63

58 : Sramaņa, Vol 65, No. 2, April-June 2014 Sākuntala, shows a distinctive Jain proclivity. One would like to add that all these addictions, except hunting are not prerogatives of aristocracy or monarchy alone. Any ruling class distinguished by wealth and power trends to be attracted towards these addictions.
Hemacandra has also instructed about the persons to be saluted by king. A king or leader should not bow down to anyone except the gods, his teachers, the Brāhmaṇas, the elders of family and the ascetics." This apparently was a kind of protocol which shows the superiority of the king over all others. He was expected to be lenient towards women, Brāhmaṇas and ascetics. Even if they commit a thousand faults, they should neither be mutilated nor killed. The maximum punishment for them should be expulsion out of country. 12 Laghvarhannīti mentions that three major functions, a king is supposed to perform, are: 1. Raksaņa- protection from external aggression, 2. Pālana- maintenance of law and order, and 3. Yogakşema- safeguarding the welfare of the people. The king should constantly think of the people and ensure that they are not being exploited by the officials. No one should be punished out of greed or anger or pride. Punishment should be strictly in proportion to one's fault. The king should work hard, the treasury should be kept full, the welfare of the country and the protection of the people should be accomplished by Nīti." The king has to protect his people not only from an outside enemy, but also from his own administrators. These two dangers are obvious and many political thinkers have mentioned. The guiding principle of the Acārya Hemcandra's legal system may be summarised as follows: Those who seek welfare should never abandon the path of Nīti. The king must remember that if he is unjust, he should suffer both in this world as well as hereafter. 14
The king is repeatedly advised to avoid favouritism in the dispensation of justice. In certain matters the king must take direct interest without