In Hinduism

Arthashastra (politics and welfare)

Source: Google Books: Way of Life: King, Householder, Renouncer

Rājakrīḍā (राजक्रीडा) refers to “royal entertainments” or “activities of pleasure and enjoyment specifically intended for kings”.—The Indian concept of ‘king of kings’ is intimately connected with the theme of the ‘good life’ as realised through the pursuit of puruṣārtha in Hindu traditions. The three goals of Kāma, Artha and Dharma are embraced by the term bhoga. A man who spent too much of his time on his own pleasures and not enough on husbanding his resources was sure to fall on hard times. Still, he was not supposed to neglect personal enjoyment either. Personal pleasure, albeit subordinated to the other goals, also had its place and it too was to be fully realised within these limits. Indeed personal enjoyment was a virtual necessity for a king. Part of what every person had to enjoy or consume, use up, was his (or her) store of merit, punya (or demerit, papa) carried into this life from the last. Kings had, by definition, great stores of merit. It was only through a concerted programme of personal pleasures, ‘royal entertainments’ (rājakrīḍā), that a king could hope to consume his merit by the end of his life and insure his rebirth in an even higher realm in the Hindu chain of being.

context information

Arthashastra (अर्थशास्त्र, arthaśāstra) literature concerns itself with the teachings (shastra) of economic prosperity (artha) statecraft, politics and military tactics. The term arthashastra refers to both the name of these scientific teachings, as well as the name of a Sanskrit work included in such literature. This book was written (3rd century BCE) by by Kautilya, who flourished in the 4th century BCE.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Krida, Raja.

Full-text: Varamukhya.

Relevant text

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