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 SUTRA
[Ch. III the states of the Mallakis and the Licchavis1 of Vaisali, referred to in the BhS throw some light upon the republican form of government, but they were not democratic in a real sense but oligarchic in character.
A detailed discussion will be made on this republican (gana) form of government in the last section of this chapter. Here an attempt will be devoted to the study of monarchical form of government as revealed in the BhS.
Monarchical form of Government
The BhS clearly reveals that the king was the paramount power of his highly centralised state based on his sovereignty over his feudal kings (Samantarājas), cities, country-states etc. Naturally he was the head of the government who was assisted by a large body of royal officials of different grades in running
the administration.
The political theory tinged with the ethical principle as advocated in the text lays heavy moral, temporal and spiritual responsibilities on the king. This view on the three aspects of monarchical form of government is clearly expressed in the Brhat.k. Bhasya' in which it is stated that "Women, dice, hunting and drink, the four sins are reprehensible in a king" with regard to the state function. The same ideal of kingship is reflected and echoed in the Mahabharata which warns the king thus "Women, dice, hunting and drink-these are said to be the four sorrows by which a man loses his fortunes."
The same idea on the moral side of kingship is clearly reflected in the political theory advocated in the Manusmrti, the Arthaśastra', the Kamandakiya Nitisara and other works
1 Bhs, 7, 9, 300-301.
Ib 11, 9, 417; 13, 6, 491.
2 Ib, 13, 6, 491.
4 Brhat. K. Bhasya, 1, 940. Mahabharata, III, 13, 7. Manusmrti, VIII, 50, "Panamakṣāh striyaścaiva mrgaya ca yathakramam/Etatkaṣṭatamam vidyaccatuskam kamaje/ gane." 7 Arthasastra, Book 1, chapter VI, (Restraint of the organs of sense), p. 10.
8 Kamandakiya Nitisara, 1st Sarga-V. 54. "Mrgaya-akṣā panam garhitāni mahibhujam Dṛṣṭastevyastu vipadaḥPandunaiṣadha-Vrsnisu,"