Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 106

Sec. III]
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
disease which are the obstacles on the way to progress of a good, healthy, wealthy and happy life of the citizens.
Thus the proper sphere of the state activity is also widened enough to cover the whole spiritual, cultural, economic and social development of the people.
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The evidences of the scope of the state as revealed in the BhS are corroborated by the Arthašastra which has made a comparative study of the sphere of state activity.
an
It is learnt from the BhS that the state was totalitarian in character as it exercised its power and influence over individual citizen and his activities, other institutions and associations for transforming the whole individual and social life. The state and the king were the pivots round which rotated the wheel of the social forces, intellectual life and activities, economic development and enterprise, and spiritual tradition of the people.
Form of Government
The government is the limb of the organic body of the state through which it functions for the welfare of the people, as the good government is the ideal of state-polity.
The states, mentioned in the BhS were country-states (Janapadas) as distinct from the city-states of Greece, having monarchical or non-monarchical forms of government. In the truest sense there was not a single democratic state at the time of Lord Mahāvīra. Because the direct democracy implies a government of the people, by the people and for the people. No doubt,
1 Arthasastra.
2 Bhs, 7, 9, 303 Nagaputra Varuna, a prominent citizen of Vaisali had to submit to the mandate of the state to join the 'Rathamusala Sangrama' against his will and to discharge his duties to the state and its people. He died due to a serious wound inflicted by a rival soldier. This fact suggests a system of conscription introduced by the state of Vaisali in times of war.
Bhs. 7, 9, 300; 11, 9, 417; 11, 11, 429; 12, 2, 441; 13, 6, 491, 4 lb, 7, 9, 300-301; 7, 9, 303,
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