Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 102

Sec. III] STUDIES İN THE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA
97 "Dandaḥ śāsti prajāḥ sarvā daņờa evābhirakṣati / Daņdah supteşu jāgarti daņdam dharmaṁ vidur-budhāh”://
The Arthaśāstra of Kautilya! interprets the Danda "as the sceptre on which depend the well-being and progress of the sciences of Anviksaki, the triple Vedas and Vārtā (Agriculture, cattle breeding and trade constitute Vārtā). That which treats of Dandu is the law of punishment or Science of government (Dandanīti)”. It is found that Daņdaniti has become later on a synonym for political science.
The Sanskrit Dictionary of Monier-Williams defines .Dandu' as 'application of the rod of administration of justice and judicature' (as a science).
It is further explained that the Daņda is one of the four political means "to make acquisition of any object demanded by the state), to keep them secure, to improve them and to distribute among the deserved the profits of improvement. It is on this science of government the course of the progress of the world depends.?" Judicial exercise of Danda
The BhS and the two Brāhmaṇical texts, viz. Manusmrti and Arthaśāstra agree in one point that the 'Dandu' must judicial. ly and impartially be exercised by the sovereign ruler. It is already pointed out that according to Manu “If the king did not without tiring inflict punishment (dandu) on those worthy to be punished, the stronger would roast the weaker like fish on a spit.”
"Yadi na pranayet rājā dandam daņdesu atandritah Śüle matsyānivāpakşyandurbalān-balavattarāh' ||2011
A similar view of the Manusmrti on the judicial exercise of the Danda' is also expressed by the Arthaśāstra in which it is stated “When the law of punishment is kept in abeyance, it gives rise to such disorder as is implied in the proverb of fishes (Matsyanyāyamudbhāvayati'), for the absence of a magistrate
1 Arthaśāstra-9 (End of Science-Vārtā and Dandaniti). ? Arthaśāstra, 9.
3 Manusmrti, VII, 20.