Concept of Rajdharma in Adi-Kavya: Ramayana and Mahabharata
| DOI | 10.1177/0019556120150109 |
| Date | 01 January 2015 |
| Published date | 01 January 2015 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
CONCEPT
OF
RAJDHARMA
IN
ADI-KAVYA:
RAMAYANA AND MAHABHARATA
SHRI
PRAKASH
SINGH
Rajdharma as a concept constitutes the judicious duties
of
the
King towards his subjects. The basic concern
of
the rajdharma
is welfare
of
the people. The King and Kingship is associated
with the concept and concern
of
the prajapalanah. In ancient
Indian classics the spirit
of
rajdharma was
to
ensure peace,
justice and prosperity to the people. Rajdharma
is
described as
an essential element
of
state even
in
saptanga theory but it was
expected from the King to peiform his duties in such a righteous
manner so that the state should
be
called as dharmarajya and
King
as
the dharmrajah. Practice
of
Dharma and maintaining
impartiality are the only means through which rajdharma may
be
practiced and dharmarajya
or
Ramrajya is achieved. The
concept
ofrajdharma
as
enunciated
in the
past
still
holds
value as orderly, peaceful
and
prosperous life
for
society
and
good
ethical conduct
in
polity.
Society
has
changed
much
even then the
tenor
or
norms
of
political
life require the
basic
prini:iple
of
rajdharma
for
better
governance
of
the
society. Unethical, unprincipled politics is reality
of
the political
life
to
regulate the affairs
of
the governance
and
justice.
It
is
essential to observe the rajdhanna.
STUDY
OF
political traditions
and
civilisational values reveal
an
unbroken
continuityoflndian culture and civilisational practices.
C.
Rajgopalachari
rightly philosophised
in
very lucid
words:
"There
is
no
country
which
can
be
governed
more
easily than India.
You
have only
to
appeal to traditions.
All
the great old kings
of
the
past, Janaka and Shri Rama are still alive and
governing
our
hearts. I
am
not
the
Governor
General,
Shri
Rama
is".
1 Political
tradition
of
India
has
been referred
to
as
one
of
the
most
ancient
and
most
extensive
and
varied
one.
The
keynote
of
Indian political culture
is
its
eternal
values
and
Sanatana Dharma.
However,
the
beginning
of
India's civilisation
is
traced
so
long
back in
time
that often it appears
to
be lost in the twilight
of
history, yet retaining
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