| The view that Trivarga is the basic structure of the Bharatiya social and political system is unanimously expressed in all the important ancient works on polity incorporated as part of Raja Dharma in the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Manu Smriti, Kautilya's Arthashastra, Kamandaka's Nitisara, Somadeva’s Nitivakyamrita etc. A careful study of these granthas shows that all of them lay down the fundamental duty of the State as 'ensuring both the rulers and the ruled acquire wealth (Artha) and fulfill their desires (Kama) without violating the rules of Dharma, which is the “Trivarga” doctrine'. Thus, Trivarga with Dharma as the controlling factor has been the most important element of the basic structure of Bharatiya Rajaniti from times immemorial. | | The view that Trivarga is the basic structure of the Bharatiya social and political system is unanimously expressed in all the important ancient works on polity incorporated as part of Raja Dharma in the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Manu Smriti, Kautilya's Arthashastra, Kamandaka's Nitisara, Somadeva’s Nitivakyamrita etc. A careful study of these granthas shows that all of them lay down the fundamental duty of the State as 'ensuring both the rulers and the ruled acquire wealth (Artha) and fulfill their desires (Kama) without violating the rules of Dharma, which is the “Trivarga” doctrine'. Thus, Trivarga with Dharma as the controlling factor has been the most important element of the basic structure of Bharatiya Rajaniti from times immemorial. |
− | In fact, the Barhaspatya Sutra declares that the goal of polity (Rajaniti) is the fulfillment of Dharma, Artha and Kama. <blockquote>नीतेः फलं धर्मार्थकामावाप्तिः ॥ 2.43 ॥{{Citation needed}} ''nīteḥ phalaṁ dharmārthakāmāvāptiḥ ॥'' 2.43 ''॥''</blockquote>And Kamandakiya Nitisara, after an elaborate discussion on the seven constituents of the State, concludes that it is the state that is administered with the assistance of wise ministers that secures the three goals (Trivarga) in an enduring manner.<blockquote>गृहीतमेतत्रिपुणेन मन्त्रिणा त्रिवर्गनिष्पत्तिमुपैति शाश्वतीम् || 4.7 ||{{Citation needed}}</blockquote><blockquote>''gr̥hītametatripuṇena mantriṇā trivarganiṣpattimupaiti śāśvatīm || 4.7 ||''</blockquote>While Mahabharata calls Danda that is representative of Raja's regulatory powers as ‘Trivarga Rupa' since it protects Trivarga ie. Dharma, Artha and Kama (the law, lawful wealth and lawful desires of human beings).<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>दण्डः संरक्षते धर्मं तथैवार्यं जनाधिप । कामं संरक्षते दण्डस्त्रिवर्गो दण्ड उच्यते ।।१२.१५.३<ref>Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-12-%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5-015 Adhyaya 15]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''daṇḍaḥ saṁrakṣate dharmaṁ tathaivāryaṁ janādhipa । kāmaṁ saṁrakṣate daṇḍastrivargo daṇḍa ucyate ।।12.15.3''</blockquote>Thus, the essence of Raja Dharma is that the Ruler must conform to rule of Trivarga.<blockquote>त्रिवर्ग फल भोक्ता च राजा धर्मेण युज्यते । ४.३८.२३ ।<ref>Ramayana, Kishkindha Kanda, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A9%E0%A5%AE Sarga 38]</ref> ''trivarga phala bhoktā ca rājā dharmeṇa yujyate । 4.38.23 ।''</blockquote>And therefore, Kautilya also declares that a Raja must strive for the achievement of Trivarga. | + | In fact, the Barhaspatya Sutra declares that the goal of polity (Rajaniti) is the fulfillment of Dharma, Artha and Kama. <blockquote>नीतेः फलं धर्मार्थकामावाप्तिः ॥ 2.43 ॥{{Citation needed}} ''nīteḥ phalaṁ dharmārthakāmāvāptiḥ ॥'' 2.43 ''॥''</blockquote>And Kamandakiya Nitisara, after an elaborate discussion on the seven constituents of the State, concludes that it is the state that is administered with the assistance of wise ministers that secures the three goals (Trivarga) in an enduring manner.<blockquote>गृहीतमेतत्रिपुणेन मन्त्रिणा त्रिवर्गनिष्पत्तिमुपैति शाश्वतीम् || 4.7 ||{{Citation needed}}</blockquote><blockquote>''gr̥hītametatripuṇena mantriṇā trivarganiṣpattimupaiti śāśvatīm || 4.7 ||''</blockquote>While Mahabharata calls Danda that is representative of Raja's regulatory powers as ‘Trivarga Rupa' since it protects Trivarga ie. Dharma, Artha and Kama (the law, lawful wealth and lawful desires of human beings).<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>दण्डः संरक्षते धर्मं तथैवार्यं जनाधिप । कामं संरक्षते दण्डस्त्रिवर्गो दण्ड उच्यते ।।१२.१५.३<ref>Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-12-%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5-015 Adhyaya 15]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''daṇḍaḥ saṁrakṣate dharmaṁ tathaivāryaṁ janādhipa । kāmaṁ saṁrakṣate daṇḍastrivargo daṇḍa ucyate ।।12.15.3''</blockquote>Thus, the essence of Raja Dharma is that the Ruler must conform to rule of Trivarga.<blockquote>त्रिवर्ग फल भोक्ता च राजा धर्मेण युज्यते । ४.३८.२३ ।<ref>Ramayana, Kishkindha Kanda, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A9%E0%A5%AE Sarga 38]</ref> ''trivarga phala bhoktā ca rājā dharmeṇa yujyate । 4.38.23 ।''</blockquote>Kautilya also declares that a Raja must strive for the achievement of Trivarga. In fact, Acharya Somadeva in his Nitivakyamrita goes on to offer his salutations to the State for ensuring acquisition of wealth and fulfillment of desires without violating Dharma. This stresses on the important role played by the State in the enforcement of the Trivarga. <blockquote>अथ धर्माय काम फलाय राज्याय नमः । ''atha dharmāya kāma phalāya rājyāya namaḥ ।'' </blockquote>Thus, all the acharyas through their granthas warn that mere acquisition of Artha i.e. economic prosperity and fulfillment of desires disregarding dharma, is sure to result in disaster, such as moral degradation, rampant corruption and large scale commission of offences. Therefore, whatever be the system of government, it could become a good government provided those who exercise the power are good. It depended upon their quality. And hence, these qualities have been specified as part of Raja Dharma in conformity with the doctrine of Trivarga.<ref name=":0" /> |
− | All of them warn that mere acquisition of Artha Wealth or Money i.e., economic prosperity and fulfillment of desires disregarding dharma, is sure to result in disaster, such as moral degradation, rampant corruption and large scale commission of offences.
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− | “The goal of the State was deemed to be enable men to attain the four Purushasthas, particularly the first three, [as the last viz, Moksha depended only upon individual philosophical insight and mystical experience and was attainable only by a microscopic number]. Even the Barhaspatya Sutra [II-43 ] says that the fruit of polity was the attainment of Dharma, Artha and Kama. Somadeva begins his Nitivakyamrita in a characteristic way when he performs obeisance to Rajya [the State ] which yields the three fruits of Dharma, Artha and Kama.
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