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The Dharmasastra authors held that Dharma was the supreme power in the state and was above the Raja who was only the instrument to realize the goal of Dharma. This purpose of Raja Dharma is reiterated by all the works on Raja Dharma. All of them declare with one voice that the highest duty of a Raja is to afford 'protection to his subjects (praja) and to dedicate himself to their welfare and happiness'.

The Dharmasastra authors held that Dharma was the supreme power in the state and was above the Raja who was only the instrument to realize the goal of Dharma. This purpose of Raja Dharma is reiterated by all the works on Raja Dharma. All of them declare with one voice that the highest duty of a Raja is to afford 'protection to his subjects (praja) and to dedicate himself to their welfare and happiness'.

== RAJADHARMA IS THE PARAMOUNT DHARMA ==

== Sources, Scope and Importance of Raja Dharma ==

Simultaneously with the bringing into existence of Rajya and the institution of kingship its founders felt the necessity to define its structure, the powers and duties of the king and the liability of the people to contribute a part of their income by way of taxes, which should be placed in the hands of the king for purposes of the defence of the realm and to maintain peace, safety and order in society and also to undertake various welfare measures for the benefit of the people. The necessity was met by making provisions regulating the constitution and organisation of the state, specifying the power and duties of the king and all other incidental provisions and treating these provisions also as part of Dharma under the title "Rajadharma" (law governing kings). In the Dharmasastras and Smritis, Rajadharma is dwelt upon as a topic separate and independent from civil, criminal and procedural law. In view of the great importance of the topic of Rajadharma, several eminent writers wrote independent treatises on it under various titles such as Rajanitisara, Dandaniti, Nitisara and it is also dealt with as part of Arthasastra. The monumental work Arthasastra is by Kautilya, who was the Prime Minister of Magadha Empire which had its capital at Patalipura (modern Patna, in the State of Bihar). P. v: Kane refers to the other extensive literature available on the subject.

With the establishment of the concept of Rajya and the institution of kingship, the need to define it's structure, the powers and duties of the Raja and the liability of the people to contribute a part of their income by way of taxes, which should be placed in the hands of the Raja for purposes of the defence of the realm and to maintain peace, safety and order in society and also to undertake various welfare measures for the benefit of the people was felt. The necessity was met by making provisions regulating the constitution and organisation of the state, specifying the power and duties of the Raja and all other incidental provisions and treating these provisions as part of Dharma under the title "Raja Dharma" (law governing Rajas). In the Dharma Shastras and Smrtis, Raja Dharma is dwelt upon as a topic separate and independent from civil, criminal and procedural law. In view of the great importance of the topic of Raja Dharma, several eminent writers wrote independent treatises on it under various titles such as Rajanitisara, Dandaniti, Nitisara, etc. It is also dealt with as part of Arthashastra. And the monumental work on Arthasastra is by Kautilya, who was the Prime Minister of the Magadha Empire Patalipura (modern Patna, in the State of Bihar) as its capital. P. V. Kane refers to the other extensive literature available on the subject. A few important ones among them include,

 

* Mahabharata - Shanti Parva

The important ones are the Mahabharata -Shanti parva, Manu Ch. VII and IX, Kamandaka Nitisara, Manasollasa of Someswsara, Yuktikalpataru of Bhoja, Rajaniti Ratnakara of Chandeswara, Rajaniti Prakasha of Mitramisra and Dandaniti of Keshava Pandita. The system of government envisaged by all the works on Rajadharma was the Rajya (the State) headed by a king. The provisions in the Dharmasastras, Smritis and other works on the topic mentioned above, covered varieties of subjects such as the constitution and organisation of the Rajya, Kingship, the manner of assuming office by the king (coronation), the code of conduct for the king, the succession of kingship, the education of young princes, the appointment of council of ministers, the chief justice and other judges of the highest court, the administrative divisions, and the powers and duties of the king.

* Manusmrti (Adhyaya 7 and 9)

 

* Kamandaka Nitisara

The propounders of Dharmasastra declared that the king (State) was absolutely necessary to maintain the society in a state of Dharmawhich was essential for the fulfillment of Artha and Kama. Rajadharma, which laid down the Dharma of the king, was paramount.<blockquote>सर्वे धर्माः सोपधर्मास्त्रयाणां राज्ञो धर्मादिति वेदाच्छूणोमि । एवं धर्मान् राजधर्मेषु सर्वान् सर्वावस्थं संप्रलीनान् निबोध ॥ (Maha Shan Parv Ch 63, 24-25)</blockquote><blockquote>''sarve dharmāḥ sopadharmāstrayāṇāṁ rājño dharmāditi vedācchūṇomi । evaṁ dharmān rājadharmeṣu sarvān sarvāvasthaṁ saṁpralīnān nibodha ॥''</blockquote>Meaning : All Dharmas are merged in Rajadharma, and it is therefore the Supreme Dharma.<ref name=":0" />

* Manasollasa of Someshvara

* Yuktikalpataru of Bhoja  

* Rajaniti Ratnakara of Chandeshvara

* Rajaniti Prakasha of Mitramishra

* Dandaniti of Keshava Pandita.  

The system of government envisaged by all the works on Raja Dharma was the Rajya (the State) headed by a Raja. The provisions in the Dharma Shastras, Smrtis and other works on the topic mentioned above, covered varieties of subjects such as,

* The constitution and organisation of the Rajya  

* Kingship  

* The manner of assuming office by the Raja (coronation)

* The code of conduct for the Raja

* The succession of kingship

* The education of young princes  

* The appointment of council of ministers, the chief justice and other judges of the highest court  

* The administrative divisions  

* The powers and duties of the Raja.

The propounders of Dharma Shastra declared that the Raja (State) was absolutely necessary to maintain the society in a state of Dharma which was essential for the fulfillment of Artha and Kama. Raja Dharma, which laid down the Dharma of the Raja, was paramount.<blockquote>सर्वे धर्माः सोपधर्मास्त्रयाणां राज्ञो धर्मादिति वेदाच्छूणोमि । एवं धर्मान् राजधर्मेषु सर्वान् सर्वावस्थं संप्रलीनान् निबोध ॥ (Maha Shan Parv Ch 63, 24-25)</blockquote><blockquote>''sarve dharmāḥ sopadharmāstrayāṇāṁ rājño dharmāditi vedācchūṇomi । evaṁ dharmān rājadharmeṣu sarvān sarvāvasthaṁ saṁpralīnān nibodha ॥''</blockquote>Meaning : All Dharmas are merged in Rajadharma, and it is therefore the Supreme Dharma.<ref name=":0" />

== Raja, THE MAKER OF THE AGE ==

== Raja, THE MAKER OF THE AGE ==