KAUTILYA’S   CONCEPT   OF   KINGSHIP :  Can  it  be    relevant  in  today’s  scenario

Every philosopher and ideologue has given his philosophy/ideology to address the needs of the society at that period of time. It is true that implementing all of their ideologies in the present scenario may not be practical but it is also true that that totally rejecting all of them would not be wise.

There are many philosophies and teachings of Kautilya , in his book  ARTHASHASHTRA which can be of great help in reviving our gradually decaying political system. It can act as a guiding light for today’s polity. Understanding his concept of kingship can be the key to achieve good governance. His philosophy of time management , discipline , honesty and devotion of king to his subjects is of great essence in the present condition of Indian polity. It can be highly useful for improving the political work culture of our nation which is badly in need of such a guiding philosophy. Some of his many useful teachings are described in detail below.

People suffering from anarchy first elected Manu to be their king and allotted  one-sixth of their grain and one-tenth of their merchandise as sovereign dues. Fed by this payment, kings took upon themselves the responsibility of maintaining the security and safety of their subjects.The state was conceived as an organic whole, like a human body and it constituent parts called organs (limbs).Seven such limbs of the state were recognised

The elements which constituted  a state were : The king,the group of councillors ,ministers and other high officials(the amatya);the territory of the state along with the population inhabiting it (the janapada) ;the fortified towns and and cities (the durga);the treasury (Kosa,the wealth of the state);the forces (of defence and law and order) and the allies.

     An ideal King is one who has the highest qualities of leadership, intellect, energy and personal attributes. The qualities of leadership (which attracts followers) intellect and prowess, close association with elders, being righteous, truthful, resolute, enthusiastic and disciplined, true to his word ,showing gratitude (to those who help him),having lofty aims, not being dilated and having ministers of high quality.

The qualities of intellect are : desire to learn, listening (to others),grasping,retaining,understanding thoroughly and reflecting on knowledge,rejecting false views and adhering to the true ones.

   An energetic king is one who is valorous,determined,quick and dexterous.

   As regards personal attributes, an ideal king should be eloquent, bold and endowed with a sharp intellect, a strong memory and a keen mind. He should be amenable to guidance. He should be well trained in all the arts and be able to lead the army. He should be just in rewarding and punishing. He should have the foresight to avail himself of the opportunities (by choosing) the right time, place and type ofaction.He should know how to govern in normal times and in times of crises. He should know when to fight and when to make peace, when to observe treaties and when to strike at an enemy’s weakness. He should preserve his dignity at all times and not laugh in an undignified manner. He should be sweet in speech, look straight at people and avoid frowning. He should eschew passion, anger, greed, obstinacy, fickleness and backbiting. He should conduct himself in accordance with the advice of elders.

     The king and his rule encapsulate all the constituents of the state .A king who observe his duty of protecting his people justly, according to law, goes to heaven, unlike one who does not protect his people, or inflicts unjust punishment. A king who flouts the teachings of the Dharmashastras and the Arthashastra, ruins the kingdom by his own injustice.

      The three sciences (philosophy,the three Vedas and economics) are dependent for their development on the science of government because without a just administration, no pursuit of learning or avocation would be possible. Government by the rule of law, which alone can guarantee security of life and welfare of the people is,in turn,dependent on the self –discipline of the king.

For, a trained intellect is the result of learning by hearing; from intellect ensues yoga (successful application); from yoga comes self possession. This is what is meant by efficiency in acquiring knowledge. Only a king who is wise,disciplined,devoted to a just governing of the subjects and ever conscious of the welfare of all being will enjoy the earth unopposed.

 If the king is energetic,his subjects will be equally energetic. If he is slack and lazy in performing his duties the subjects will also be lax,thereby, eat into his wealth. Besides,a lazy king will easily fall prey to the hands of his enemies. Hence, the king should himself always be energetic. He shall divide the day and night,into eight periods of one and a half hours and perform his duties as follows: Day: First 1  ½ hours after sunrise  Receive reports on defence, revenue, and expenture. Second 1 ½ hours after sunrise  Public audiences, to hear petitions of city and country people. Third 1 ½ hours after sunrise 1 ½ hours before noon (personal-bath,meals,study).Receive revenue and tributes; appoint ministers and other high officials and allot tasks to them. First 1 ½ hours after noon Write letters and dispatches; confer with councillors; receive secret information from spies. Second 1 ½ hours after noon (personal-recreation, time for contemplation).Third 1 ½ hours after noon 1 ½ hours before sunset Insepct and review forces. Consult with chief of Defence. The day shall end with evening prayers. Night : First 1 ½ hours after sunset Second 1 ½ hours after sunset Interview with secret agents. (personal- bath, meals, study). 3 hours before and first 1 ½ hours after midnight Second 1 ½ hours after midnight  (Retire to the bed chamber to the sound of music; sleep.) After waking to the sound of music, meditate on political matters and on the work to be done. Third 1 ½ hours after midnight 1 ½ hours before sunrise (Religious, household and personal duties; meetings with his teacher, adviser on rituals, purohita, personal physician, chief cook and astrologer.)

 At daybreak, he shall circumambulate a cow, its calf and a bull,and then proceed to his court. (A king is, therefore, is allowed 10 ½ hours out of twenty four as his personal time-three hours for bath and meals, one and a half hours for recreation and six hours at night, during which he can sleep for four and a half hours.The hour and a half before sunrise is to be spent on palace affairs and personal  needs.Out  of the twelve hours each day to be spent on state duties, one and a half hours are to be devoted to public audiences,three hours to defence, three hours to secret consultations and intelligence and the balance four and  a half hours on the administration of the state.)

   The above is only a suggestion and the king may, in accordance with his capacity, alter the timetable and carry out his duties.

   

  IN THE HAPPINESS OF HIS SUBJECTS LIES HIS HAPPINESS; IN THEIR WELFARE HIS WELFARE. HE SHALL NOT CONSIDER AS GOOD ONLY THAT WHICH PLEASES HIM BUT TREAT AS BENEFICIAL TO HIM WHATEVER PLEASES HIS SUBJECTS.

Hence the king shall be ever active in the management of the economy. The root of wealth is economic activity and lack of it brings material distress.In the absence of fruitful economic activity, both current prosperity and future growth will be destroyed. A king can achieve the desired objectives and abundance of riches by undertaking productive economic activity.

A ruler’s duties in the internal administration of the country are three –fold: raksha or protection of the state from external aggression, palana or maintenance of law and order within the state, and YOGAKSHEMA or safeguarding the welfare of the people.

 The functions of the state was the security of life and property,administration of justice,maintenance of economiccontrol including nationalisation of trade and industry maintenance of proper relation  between members of  a family,and the strict observance of rules  prescribed by religion or social custom and etiquette.The state duty is confined not only  management of large scale trade and industry,and exercise of effective control over every profession and occupation,and even public amusements, but it also lays down what should be the proper relation  between husband and wife,father and son,brother and sister.

The duty of the state to protect the helpless,the aged,and the orphan,and save the people from effect of natural calamities. That is the reason kautilya laid great stress on education and moral training to the future king. Kautilya  gives great importance to the power of the people. The ministers about whom the Arthashastra says “sovereignty is possible only with assistance.A single wheel can never move.Hence the king shall employ ministers and and hear their opinion”

Thus according to Kautilya ,to achieve good governance, machinery of the government must be accountable and responsible.

REFERENCE:
1. Kautilya's Arthashashtra