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This shows that in a land where the Vedas were regarded as Supreme, the non-believers in the Vedas were also to be respected and protected.<ref name=":6" />

This shows that in a land where the Vedas were regarded as Supreme, the non-believers in the Vedas were also to be respected and protected.<ref name=":6" />

Further more, Kamandaka specifically called upon the Rulers to protect people against his officers and favourites.<ref name=":0" /> He says,<blockquote>आयुक्तकेभ्यश्चौरेभ्यः परेभ्यो राजवल्लभात् | पृथिवीपतिलोभाच्च प्रजानां पञ्चधा भयम् ||5.8.81|| पञ्चप्रकारमप्येतदपोह्य नृपतिर्भयम् |<ref>T. Ganapati Sastri (1912), [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.281069/page/n113/mode/2up Nitisara of Kamandaka], Trivandrum Sanskrit Series no.14, Trivandrum.</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''āyuktakebhyaścaurebhyaḥ parebhyo rājavallabhāt | pr̥thivīpatilobhācca prajānāṁ pañcadhā bhayam ||5.8.81|| pañcaprakāramapyetadapohya nr̥patirbhayam |''</blockquote>Meaning: The subjects require protection against wicked officers of the Raja, thieves, enemies of the Raja, royal favourites (such as the queen, princes etc.), and more than all, against the greed of the Raja himself. The Raja should ensure that the people are free from these fears.

Further more, Kamandaka specifically called upon the Rulers to protect people against his officers and favourites.<ref name=":0" /> He says,<blockquote>आयुक्तकेभ्यश्चौरेभ्यः परेभ्यो राजवल्लभात् | पृथिवीपतिलोभाच्च प्रजानां पञ्चधा भयम् ||5.8.81|| पञ्चप्रकारमप्येतदपोह्य नृपतिर्भयम् |<ref>T. Ganapati Sastri (1912), [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.281069/page/n113/mode/2up Nitisara of Kamandaka], Trivandrum Sanskrit Series no.14, Trivandrum.</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''āyuktakebhyaścaurebhyaḥ parebhyo rājavallabhāt | pr̥thivīpatilobhācca prajānāṁ pañcadhā bhayam ||5.8.81|| pañcaprakāramapyetadapohya nr̥patirbhayam |''</blockquote>Meaning: The subjects require protection against wicked officers of the Raja, thieves, enemies of the Raja, royal favourites (such as the queen, princes etc.), and more than all, against the greed of the Raja himself. The Raja should ensure that the people are free from these fears.<ref name=":6" />

In this context, an illuminating case is recorded in the Rajatarangini.   

In this context, an illuminating case is recorded in the Rajatarangini.   

The story further continues with the charmakara getting an audience with the Raja at his own request where he says, "What the palace is to Your Majesty, the hut is to me. I could not bear to see its demolition. You can very well appreciate the plight of a man who is deprived of his dwelling. However, if your majesty were to come to my hut and ask for it, I shall give it up having due regard to the code of good manners."

The story further continues with the charmakara getting an audience with the Raja at his own request where he says, "What the palace is to Your Majesty, the hut is to me. I could not bear to see its demolition. You can very well appreciate the plight of a man who is deprived of his dwelling. However, if your majesty were to come to my hut and ask for it, I shall give it up having due regard to the code of good manners."

The Raja also, with all humility, then goes to the charmakara's hut and with his consent purchases the hut by paying a price which was far more than the expectation of the charmakara. The charmakara being entirely satisfied, said to the Raja with folded hands<ref name=":0" /> that,<blockquote>राजधर्मानुरोधेन परवत्ता तवोचिता ||4.75||... स्वस्ति तुभ्यं चिरं स्थेया धर्म्या वृत्तान्तपद्धतीः | दर्शयन्नीदृशीः शुद्धाः श्रद्धेया धर्मचारिणाम् ||4.77||<ref name=":4" /> </blockquote><blockquote>''rājadharmānurodhena paravattā tavocitā ||4.75||... svasti tubhyaṁ ciraṁ stheyā dharmyā vr̥ttāntapaddhatīḥ | darśayannīdr̥śīḥ śuddhāḥ śraddheyā dharmacāriṇām ||4.77||''</blockquote>Meaning: Yielding to another (however low), adhering to the principles of Raja Dharrna, is the appropriate course for a Raja. I wish you well. May you live long, establishing the supremacy of the law (Dharma). Seeing in you, such faith in Dharma, others will also act accordingly.

The Raja also, with all humility, then goes to the charmakara's hut and with his consent purchases the hut by paying a price which was far more than the expectation of the charmakara. The charmakara being entirely satisfied, said to the Raja with folded hands<ref name=":0" /> that,<blockquote>राजधर्मानुरोधेन परवत्ता तवोचिता ||4.75||... स्वस्ति तुभ्यं चिरं स्थेया धर्म्या वृत्तान्तपद्धतीः | दर्शयन्नीदृशीः शुद्धाः श्रद्धेया धर्मचारिणाम् ||4.77||<ref name=":4" /> </blockquote><blockquote>''rājadharmānurodhena paravattā tavocitā ||4.75||... svasti tubhyaṁ ciraṁ stheyā dharmyā vr̥ttāntapaddhatīḥ | darśayannīdr̥śīḥ śuddhāḥ śraddheyā dharmacāriṇām ||4.77||''</blockquote>Meaning: Yielding to another (however low), adhering to the principles of Raja Dharrna, is the appropriate course for a Raja. I wish you well. May you live long, establishing the supremacy of the law (Dharma). Seeing in you, such faith in Dharma, others will also act accordingly.<ref name=":6" />

This account in the Rajatarangini is an inspiring example of the Raja upholding the rule of law at his own initiative thereby, granting relief to a poor man against the arbitrary action of his own officers. It establishes that the commendation of a poor subject is more valuable to a Raja than the flattery of selfish individuals.

This account in the Rajatarangini is an inspiring example of the Raja upholding the rule of law at his own initiative thereby, granting relief to a poor man against the arbitrary action of his own officers. It establishes that the commendation of a poor subject is more valuable to a Raja than the flattery of selfish individuals.