2023-02-16 11:11:43 by ambuda-bot
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Introduction
which is the most political of the dramas, and the
Venisamhāra of Bhaṭṭanārāyaṇa. Apart from these,
mention may be made of the Raghuvamsa and the
Malavikāgnimitra of Kalidasa, Kadambari and the
Harşacarita of Bāṇabhaṭṭa, Daśakumāracarita of
Dandin, Rajatarangini of Kalhana and the Panca-
tantra and the Hitopadeśa, which contain a profuse
quantity of socio-cultural data including those on
politics. About the South Indian forms of govern-
ment and political ideas we get occasional references
in the literary works like the Tirukkural and the
Silappadikaram.
19
Apart from books, the rock and copper plate
inscriptions also contain a lot of material. These
inscriptions often 'represent the actual state of
affairs in the government machinery of the different
administrations'.16 From these inscriptions we may
learn about the designations and the duties and
responsibilities of the various government officials,
relation between the King and his cabinet or the
popular assembly, territorial divisions, different
kinds of tax and levies, etc., etc.
Aspects of Ancient Indian Political Life and
Thought
The survey of the original sources made above
should suffice to indicate that the ancient works
concerning politics cover a vast field and varied
aspects of political life and thought. Technical
works like the Arthaśāstra or the Kamandakıya
Nitisāra were composed as text books for the train-
ing and guidance of the Kings. Hence the technical
16. Altekar, SGAI, p. 24.
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Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
which is the most political of the dramas, and the
Venisamhāra of Bhaṭṭanārāyaṇa. Apart from these,
mention may be made of the Raghuvamsa and the
Malavikāgnimitra of Kalidasa, Kadambari and the
Harşacarita of Bāṇabhaṭṭa, Daśakumāracarita of
Dandin, Rajatarangini of Kalhana and the Panca-
tantra and the Hitopadeśa, which contain a profuse
quantity of socio-cultural data including those on
politics. About the South Indian forms of govern-
ment and political ideas we get occasional references
in the literary works like the Tirukkural and the
Silappadikaram.
19
Apart from books, the rock and copper plate
inscriptions also contain a lot of material. These
inscriptions often 'represent the actual state of
affairs in the government machinery of the different
administrations'.16 From these inscriptions we may
learn about the designations and the duties and
responsibilities of the various government officials,
relation between the King and his cabinet or the
popular assembly, territorial divisions, different
kinds of tax and levies, etc., etc.
Aspects of Ancient Indian Political Life and
Thought
The survey of the original sources made above
should suffice to indicate that the ancient works
concerning politics cover a vast field and varied
aspects of political life and thought. Technical
works like the Arthaśāstra or the Kamandakıya
Nitisāra were composed as text books for the train-
ing and guidance of the Kings. Hence the technical
16. Altekar, SGAI, p. 24.
Digitized by
Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN