Rajadharma: An Analysis of the Ancient Indian Political Texts
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53573/rhimrj.2023.v10n03.004Keywords:
Rajadharma, Danda, Varna system, Dharma, Vedic traditionAbstract
According to the ancient Hindu political treatises like Dharmashastras, Manusmriti, Arthashastra and Mahabharata, among others, a key concept of ‘rajadharma’ has been explored which not only prescribes the duties and obligations of the king but also establishes the laws for good governance. Rajadharma has been conceived as instrumental in establishing dharma in society. The king was required to uphold rajadharma for the welfare of his ‘janapada’ or subjects by displaying the highest virtues himself and also establishingthe supremacy of dharma whereby all his subjects should abide by the moral norms and rules of conduct, enforced through the fear of punishment or danda. Dharma which is much more comprehensive than religion encompassed the human code of conduct in its entirety and laid down rules for the groups of people based on the fourfold varna system. According to Rajadharma, the king ensured stability and peace in society by ensuring the smooth functioning of the Varna system.
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