2023-02-16 11:11:43 by ambuda-bot
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18
Political Concepts in Ancient India
of the nature of an extensive guide book for the
rulers.
Other Original Sources
The Purāṇas are usually encyclopaedic in their
contents. Hence, it is no wonder that just as some
Purāṇas deal with Poetics (Alaṁkāra), some also
deal with the theories of state and government.
For example we have discussion on Politics in
Agnipurana (Ch.s 218-42), Matsyapurana (Ch.s
215-43), Garuḍapurāṇa (Ch.s 108-115), Mārkaṇḍeya-
purāṇa (Ch. 24), and Kālikāpurāṇa (Ch.s 87, 88).
But whatever we have in these Puranas is only a
repetition of the contents of the Santi Parva or the
Arthaśāstra or the Manu Samhita and the Kaman-
dakiya Nītisāra.
In the Rāmāyaṇa also we have a lot of materials
relating to ancient Indian political ideas and insti-
tutions. Though the principal sentiment of the
Rāmāyaṇa is Karuṇa (Pathos), yet it has Kings and
Princes as heroes and describes a great deal of
diplomacy and political organisation. Hence, the
Rāmāyaṇa also serves as an important source. The
Sanskrit court epics are expected to have either the
Erotic (Śrngāra) or the Heroic (Vira) as the principal
sentiment. The basic stories are also often taken from
Itihāsas or the two great epics. Thus, in the Kavyas
having Vīra as the principal sentiment we invariably
have a canto or two devoted to discussion on politics.
The first two cantos of the Kirātārjunīya and the
second canto of the Sisupalavadha are the most
handy examples. Similar is the case with the
Mudrārākşasa of Visakhadatta,
dramas like the
Digitized by
Google
Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Political Concepts in Ancient India
of the nature of an extensive guide book for the
rulers.
Other Original Sources
The Purāṇas are usually encyclopaedic in their
contents. Hence, it is no wonder that just as some
Purāṇas deal with Poetics (Alaṁkāra), some also
deal with the theories of state and government.
For example we have discussion on Politics in
Agnipurana (Ch.s 218-42), Matsyapurana (Ch.s
215-43), Garuḍapurāṇa (Ch.s 108-115), Mārkaṇḍeya-
purāṇa (Ch. 24), and Kālikāpurāṇa (Ch.s 87, 88).
But whatever we have in these Puranas is only a
repetition of the contents of the Santi Parva or the
Arthaśāstra or the Manu Samhita and the Kaman-
dakiya Nītisāra.
In the Rāmāyaṇa also we have a lot of materials
relating to ancient Indian political ideas and insti-
tutions. Though the principal sentiment of the
Rāmāyaṇa is Karuṇa (Pathos), yet it has Kings and
Princes as heroes and describes a great deal of
diplomacy and political organisation. Hence, the
Rāmāyaṇa also serves as an important source. The
Sanskrit court epics are expected to have either the
Erotic (Śrngāra) or the Heroic (Vira) as the principal
sentiment. The basic stories are also often taken from
Itihāsas or the two great epics. Thus, in the Kavyas
having Vīra as the principal sentiment we invariably
have a canto or two devoted to discussion on politics.
The first two cantos of the Kirātārjunīya and the
second canto of the Sisupalavadha are the most
handy examples. Similar is the case with the
Mudrārākşasa of Visakhadatta,
dramas like the
Digitized by
Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN