Raja Dharma, Governance & Administration
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Mahabharata Series Raja dharma, Governance & Administration Compiled by: G H Visweswara PREFACE I have extracted these contents from my other comprehensive & unique work on Mahabharata called Mahabharata-Spectroscope. (See http://www.ghvisweswara.com/mahabharata-2/mahabharata-spectroscope-a-unique- resource/). Whereas the material in that was included in the order in which it appears in the original epic, in this compilation I have grouped them by meaningful Topics & Sub- topics thus making it much more useful to the student/scholar of this subject. This is a compilation of the contents appearing in the great epic Mahabharata on the topics of Raja dharma, Governance & Administration. The broader topics covered are: General principles of Governance, About Servants (employees), Administrative structures, System of Justice & punishments, Strategies in respect of enemies, Managing special relationships, Caring for the citizens, Importance to brahmanas, Protection of fort, kingdom, self & people, King’s knowledge, character, behaviour & personal matters, Wealth, finance & Tax matters, and Association of people as a political system. The compilation is not exhaustive in the sense that every para appearing in the great epic is not included here for the sake of limiting the size of this document. But still most of the key or representative passages have been compiled here. The contents are from Mahabharata excluding the Bhagavad Gita. I hope the readers will find the document of some use in their study on these topics. Please see http://www.ghvisweswara.com/mahabharata-2 for my other topic based compilations based on Mahabharata. G H Visweswara [email protected] www.ghvisweswara.com June 2017 Raja dharma, Governance & Administration: G H Visweswara Page 1 Table of Contents Raja dharma, Governance and Administration ....................................................................................... 5 Importance of king as ruler & Role of citizens ..................................................................................... 5 King and danda-neeti ....................................................................................................................... 6 It is king who causes the characteristics of yugas and not time! ................................................. 6 Raja dharma/King’s Dharma ............................................................................................................... 8 Importance of dharmic rule .............................................................................................................. 8 How/What of dharmic rule/Raja dharma ...................................................................................... 9 Importance & Power of danda (punishment) ............................................................................. 13 Consequences of dharmic/adharmic rule................................................................................... 14 General principles of/guidelines for Governance .............................................................................. 15 Mixed points ................................................................................................................................... 15 Administration mechanism ............................................................................................................. 17 Introspection & Feedback gathering .............................................................................................. 18 Issues needing alertness/care ....................................................................................................... 18 People/Situations to avoid/suppress .............................................................................................. 18 Rewards & Honors ......................................................................................................................... 19 Value the scholarly & the aged ...................................................................................................... 19 Works & their Execution................................................................................................................. 20 Identifying friends & enemies ......................................................................................................... 20 Classification of friends .............................................................................................................. 21 Trusting friends & allies .............................................................................................................. 21 Characteristics of a good friend ................................................................................................. 21 About Servants (employees/Staff) of the king ................................................................................... 22 How not to behave with them ........................................................................................................ 22 Who are good/right persons .......................................................................................................... 22 Whom to reject ............................................................................................................................... 23 Appropriate choice & placement .................................................................................................... 23 Types of people needed ................................................................................................................ 24 How to treat them ........................................................................................................................... 24 Loyalty/Trust matters ..................................................................................................................... 25 About ministers .............................................................................................................................. 25 Their importance ........................................................................................................................ 25 Prime minister ............................................................................................................................ 25 Qualities of a minister ................................................................................................................. 26 Consulting with ministers ........................................................................................................... 26 What the king should watch out for ............................................................................................ 27 Council of ministers .................................................................................................................... 27 Consulting/Seeking opinion ........................................................................................................... 28 Spies & Spying ............................................................................................................................... 28 Raja dharma, Governance & Administration: G H Visweswara Page 2 Qualities of spies ........................................................................................................................ 28 Types of spies ............................................................................................................................ 28 Function/Use of spies ................................................................................................................. 28 Characteristics of soldiers .............................................................................................................. 29 Qualities for certain other jobs ....................................................................................................... 30 Assignment of responsibilities & tasks ........................................................................................... 30 Portfolios assigned by Yudhishtira ................................................................................................. 30 Hierarchical Administrative structure ................................................................................................. 31 System of justice & Punishments ...................................................................................................... 32 Principles & Basis .......................................................................................................................... 32 Violence & non-violence in punishments ....................................................................................... 33 Confusion about dharma & adharma ......................................................................................... 33 Discussion on capital punishment .............................................................................................. 33 Progressively increasing punishment ......................................................................................... 33 Principles of punishment ............................................................................................................ 34 Execution ....................................................................................................................................... 35 Strategies in respect of enemies ....................................................................................................... 36 Making compromise with others ...................................................................................................