Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

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STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA
[Ch. III
who says "the king who is virtuous is a part of the gods. He who is otherwise is a part of the demons".
Principle of Kingship (Rajadharma)
Though there is no evidence of direct constitutional rights of the people to check the unbriddled autocracy of the king in the Bhs, still it enjoins upon the king the duty of following the eternal principle of Dharma (law) propounded by the ancient political thinkers of India.
The study of the Bhs clearly shows that the state was an organic whole consisting of different constituent parts, viz. a territory, a king, an organised government, economic selfsufficiency, adequate defence and recognition by other states as essential elements, in other words, the king, minister, country, fort, treasury and friend.
Sphere of State Activity
The BhS presents a conception of an ancient state with a wider scope of various activities which covered the whole of individual and social life. The state machinery was organised for the sustenance of social order, realisation of spiritual life, executive and judicial function and defence of the country, and it took up a positive stand for the development and progress of family, society, economics, religion, ethics, and culture. The function of the state as mentioned in the Bhs may be summed up by the word Palayāhi (protect). Here this term 'Palayahi' generally denotes that it is the duty of the king and the state to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty from all possible external enemies and to protect life, property, and honour of its people from internal disruptive forces of lawlessness, disorder, encroachment by the royal officers" and injustice', and the effects of natural calamities, such as, flood, famine, earthquake, locusts, folly and ignorance, poverty, illiteracy, and
1 Bhs, 9, 33.383; 11, 9, 417; 11, 11, 429, 13, 6, 491 etc. Bhs, 11, 9, 417; 13, 6, 491.
Ib, 11, 11, 429 (abhaḍappavesa).
4 Tb, 11, 11, 429 (adamḍa-koḍamḍima).