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This firm commitment to Raja Dharma and the refusal to secure or accept power by Bharata is all the more relevant now and serves as an example even to present day rulers to remain true to their Dharma.

This firm commitment to Raja Dharma and the refusal to secure or accept power by Bharata is all the more relevant now and serves as an example even to present day rulers to remain true to their Dharma.

==Introduction==

==Introduction ==

<blockquote>"'''''Dharma is that which upholds, nourishes or supports the stability of the society, maintains the social order and secures the general well-being and progress of man-kind'''''</blockquote><blockquote>(Supreme court of India)"</blockquote>The '''smritis''' laid down a code of conduct which should be scrupulously observed by the kings and applied to every kind of political ruler and officers exercising governmental powers. Its directives were invariably followed both in letter and spirit by the royal families.

<blockquote>"'''''Dharma is that which upholds, nourishes or supports the stability of the society, maintains the social order and secures the general well-being and progress of man-kind'''''</blockquote><blockquote>(Supreme court of India)"</blockquote>The '''smritis''' laid down a code of conduct which should be scrupulously observed by the kings and applied to every kind of political ruler and officers exercising governmental powers. Its directives were invariably followed both in letter and spirit by the royal families.

iztklq[ks lq[ka jkK% iztkuka p fgrs fgre~A<br>ukRefiz;a fgra jkK% iztkuka rq fiz;a fgre~A<br>KAUT: 9-39<br>In the happiness of his subjects lies the king's happiness: in their welfare,<br>his welfare, whatever pleases himself the king shall not consider as good,<br>

iztklq[ks lq[ka jkK% iztkuka p fgrs fgre~A<br>ukRefiz;a fgra jkK% iztkuka rq fiz;a fgre~A<br>KAUT: 9-39<br>In the happiness of his subjects lies the king's happiness: in their welfare,<br>his welfare, whatever pleases himself the king shall not consider as good,<br>

but whatever pleases his subjects, the king shall consider as good."</blockquote>The code of Conduct for Kings as mentioned in the Shastras are as follows

but whatever pleases his subjects, the king shall consider as good."</blockquote>The code of Conduct for Kings as mentioned in the Shastras are as follows

"</blockquote>

====(c) Death preferable to vicious life====

<blockquote>"'''O;luL; p e`R;ksÜp O;lua d"VeqP;rsA O;lU;/kks·/kks oztfr Lo;kZR;O;luh e`r%AA''' Manu VIII 53"</blockquote><blockquote>"In a comparison between vice and death, vice is declared to be more harmful because a vicious man sinks to the nethermost hell while he who dies free from vice goes to heaven."</blockquote>

 

====(d) The king must guard himself against going astray====

<blockquote>"'''o';sfUnz;a ftrkRekua /k`rn.Ma fodkfj"kqA ijh{;dkfj.ka /khjeR;Ura JhfuZ"ksorsAA 'kkS;Zfo|kFkZckgqY;kr izHkqRokPp fo'ks"kr%A lnk fpÙka ujsUnzk.kka eksgek;kfr dkj.kkrÃA rLekfPpra izcks);O;a jkt/kesZ lnk f}tS%A ifo=a ijea iq.;a Le`frokD;a u ya?k;srÃA vkReh;s lafLFkrk /kesZ u`ik% 'kØRoekIuq;q%A vohfpokfluks ;s rq O;isrpkfj.k% lnkA''' KAT. 3-4, 5-9"</blockquote><blockquote>"Glory very much resorts (to a king) whose senses are under control, who can curb his passions, who wields (the rod of) punishment against those who fall victims to temptations, and who does (every act) after due deliberation, and who is extremely calm and steady. "</blockquote><blockquote>"By reason of their being endowed with an abundance pf valour, learning and wealth, and particularly on account of the supreme power (they wield), the minds of kings always tend to go astray ( even) for the slightest reason (or impulse). "</blockquote><blockquote>"Kings who abide by the duties especially prescribed for them attain the position of Indra, but those who go astray deviating from the path of Dharma go to hell (after death). "</blockquote>The above texts reveal the great stress laid on the character and qualities a king should possess. To this end, imparting an all round education and training to princes, and instilling in them the traits of good character and discipline was emphasised.

<blockquote>इन्द्रियाणां जये योगं समातिष्ठेद्दिवानिशम् | जितेन्द्रियो हि शक्नोति वशे स्थापयितुं प्रजाः || Manusmriti</blockquote><blockquote>''indriyāṇāṁ jaye yogaṁ samātiṣṭheddivāniśam | jitendriyo hi śaknoti vaśe sthāpayituṁ prajāḥ ||''</blockquote>

 

====The king must subdue his senses:====

Day and night the king must strenuously exert himself to conquer his senses for he alone who has conquered his own senses can keep his subjects in obedience.

 

====The king must shun the following vices:====

<blockquote>दश कामसमुत्थानि तथाऽष्टौ क्रोधजानि च | व्यसनानि दुरन्तानि प्रयत्नेन विवर्जयेत् || </blockquote><blockquote>कामजेषु प्रसक्तो हि व्यसनेषु महीपतिः | वियुज्यतेऽर्थ धर्माभ्यां क्रोधजेष्वात्मनैव तु ||</blockquote><blockquote>मृगयाऽक्षादिवास्वप्नः परिवादः स्त्रियो मदः | तौर्यत्रिकं वृथाऽट्या च कामजो दशको गुणः ||</blockquote><blockquote>पैशुन्यं साहसं द्रोहः ईर्ष्यासूयार्थदूषणम् | वाग्दण्डजं च पारुष्यं क्रोधजोऽपि गुणोऽष्टकः ||</blockquote><blockquote>''daśa kāmasamutthāni tathā'ṣṭau krodhajāni ca | vyasanāni durantāni prayatnena vivarjayet ||''</blockquote><blockquote>''kāmajeṣu prasakto hi vyasaneṣu mahīpatiḥ | viyujyate'rtha dharmābhyāṁ krodhajeṣvātmanaiva tu ||''</blockquote><blockquote>''mr̥gayā'kṣādivāsvapnaḥ parivādaḥ striyo madaḥ | tauryatrikaṁ vr̥thā'ṭyā ca kāmajo daśako guṇaḥ ||''</blockquote><blockquote>''paiśunyaṁ sāhasaṁ drohaḥ īrṣyāsūyārthadūṣaṇam | vāgdaṇḍajaṁ ca pāruṣyaṁ krodhajo'pi guṇo'ṣṭakaḥ ||''</blockquote>Meaning:

# Tale bearing, violence, treachery, envy, slandering, unjust seizure of property, reviling and assault are the set of eightfold vices flowing from wrath; out of these, doing bodily injury, reviling and seizure of property are the most pernicious.

 

<blockquote>अदेश्यं यश्च दिशति निर्दिश्यापह्नुते च यः । यश्चाधरोत्तरानर्थान्विगीतान्नावबुध्यते । । ८.५३ । ।</blockquote><blockquote>''adeśyaṁ yaśca diśati nirdiśyāpahnute ca yaḥ । yaścādharottarānarthānvigītānnāvabudhyate । । 8.53 । ।'' Manu VIII 53</blockquote>Meaning: In a comparison between vice and death, vice is declared to be more harmful because a vicious man sinks to the nethermost hell while he who dies free from vice goes to heaven.

 

====The king must guard himself against going astray====

<blockquote>वश्येन्द्रियं जितात्मानं धृतदण्डं विकारिषु । परीक्ष्यकारिणं धीरं अत्यन्तं श्रीर्निषेवते ।। ००३ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>शौर्यविद्यार्थबाहुल्यात्प्रभुत्वाच्च विशेषतः । सदा चित्तं नरेन्द्राणां मोहं आयाति कारणात् ।। ००४ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>तस्माच्चित्तं प्रबोद्धव्यं राजधर्मे सदा द्विजैः । पवित्रं परमं पुण्यं स्मृतिवाक्यं न लङ्घयेत् ।। ००५ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>आत्मीये संस्थिता धर्मे नृपाः शक्रत्वं आप्नुयुः । अवीचिवासिनो ये तु व्यपेताचारिणः सदा ।। ००९ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>''vaśyendriyaṁ jitātmānaṁ dhr̥tadaṇḍaṁ vikāriṣu । parīkṣyakāriṇaṁ dhīraṁ atyantaṁ śrīrniṣevate ।। 003 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''śauryavidyārthabāhulyātprabhutvācca viśeṣataḥ । sadā cittaṁ narendrāṇāṁ mohaṁ āyāti kāraṇāt ।। 004 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''tasmāccittaṁ praboddhavyaṁ rājadharme sadā dvijaiḥ । pavitraṁ paramaṁ puṇyaṁ smr̥tivākyaṁ na laṅghayet ।। 005 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''ātmīye saṁsthitā dharme nr̥pāḥ śakratvaṁ āpnuyuḥ । avīcivāsino ye tu vyapetācāriṇaḥ sadā ।। 009 ।।'' KAT. 3-4, 5-9</blockquote>Meaning:

 

Glory very much resorts (to a king) whose senses are under control, who can curb his passions, who wields (the rod of) punishment against those who fall victims to temptations, and who does (every act) after due deliberation, and who is extremely calm and steady.

 

By reason of their being endowed with an abundance pf valour, learning and wealth, and particularly on account of the supreme power (they wield), the minds of kings always tend to go astray ( even) for the slightest reason (or impulse).

 

Kings who abide by the duties especially prescribed for them attain the position of Indra, but those who go astray deviating from the path of Dharma go to hell (after death).  

 

The above texts reveal the great stress laid on the character and qualities a king should possess. To this end, imparting an all round education and training to princes, and instilling in them the traits of good character and discipline was emphasised.

==King Chandrapida and the Cobbler==

==King Chandrapida and the Cobbler==

'''Kamandaka''' called upon the kings to protect people against his favourites and officers.<blockquote>"vk;qDrdsH;'pkSjsH;% ijsH;ks jktoYyHkkrà i`fFkohifryksHkkPp iztkuka iŒp/kk Hk;eà iŒpizdkjeI;sr iksáa u`irsHkZ;eÃA

'''Kamandaka''' called upon the kings to protect people against his favourites and officers.<blockquote>"vk;qDrdsH;'pkSjsH;% ijsH;ks jktoYyHkkrà i`fFkohifryksHkkPp iztkuka iŒp/kk Hk;eà iŒpizdkjeI;sr iksáa u`irsHkZ;eÃA