3. Nature of Kingship

Scholars differ as to whether the kingship was elective There is no doubt that the kingship was in ancient India. elective in some cases in the early vedic period, but the 14 Aitereya Br. I.14. 15 Dighanikaya III.27. 16 Satapatha Br. 5.1.1.12 & 5.3.1. 17 Ghoshal U.N., Hindu Political Theories, PP. 51,52. 18 Sukraniti 1.64. 19 K.V.Rangaswami Alyangar, Indian Cameralism, PP. 94 ff.

1074 monarchy had become normally hereditary long before the later vedic period.20 Apart from conquest and election in rare cases, monarchy was hereditary and generally descended by primogeniture. 21 The selection of the eldest son as a successor to the kingdom appears to have been the normal form of disposition. A review of the lists of kings of solar and lunar dynasties as given in the epics and Puranas shows that the eldest son as a rule succeeded his father as heir to the kingdom, while deviations are noticed in cases in which the eldest son became civilly dead or legally incapable through physical defects or gave up their right to inherit the kingdom.2 22 The Brahma-Purana states that among the six sons of king Nahusa, the second named Yayati succeeded to the kingdom in place of the 23 eldest Yati, who had turned an ascetic. Devapi were superceded under this rule on account of blindness and leprosy respectively when the succession became open. Rama's case is also no deviation from the normal rule.24 Dhrtarastra and Apart from the theory of primogeniture, instances are met with in which the kingdom is divided among all the 20 21 22 23 Altekar A.S., Op.Cit.,PP.50,52; Jayaswal K.P., Op.Cit.,PP.187 Kane P.V., Op.Cit., P. 41. Law Narendra, Aspects of Ancient Indian Polity, P. 51. 12.2,3; cf. also Harivansa XXX.1-3. 24 Hopking J.A., O.S., xiii, 139-44, Pandit Jagannatha Tarkapancanana - Colebrooke's digest, 1. 414-20. 1,

1075 sons.. The Brahma-Purana mentions how lord Brahma divided the whole world into different sections and assigned the duty of reigning to different authorities. After anointing the king Prthu, Lord Brahma appointed Soma as the king of birds, Virudhas, naksatras, grahas and sacrifices, Varuna as the king og of waters, Indrax as the king of kings, Visnu as that of Adityas, Fire as that of the Vasus, Daksa as that of the Prajapati's, Vasu as that of the Maruts, Prahrada as that of the Yaksas and Raksasas, Girisa as that of the Bhutas and Pisacas, Himavan as that of the mountains, ocean as that of the rivers, Citraratha as that of the Gandharvas, Vasuki as that of the Nagas, Taksaka as that of the sarpas, Airavata as that of the elephants, Uccaistavas as that of the horses, Garuda as that of the birds, Lion as that of the animals, the bull as that of " In the cows, Plaksa as that of all the vegetables. After dividing the whole world in this way, he appointed the dikpalas. the eastern direction was appointed Sudhanva, the son of Vairaja Prajapati; in the western, Ketuman, the son of Rajas; in the northern, Hiranyaroma, the son of Prajanya Prajapati. By them even now the world is is reigned (4.1-18). When Manu wanted to enter the sun, he divided his kingdom into ten parts and nine parts were allotted to his nine sons and as the tenth one, viz. Sudyumna was originally in the form of a daughter Ila, he did not get his position, but on the advice of the sage Vasistha,

1076 the city Pratisthana was allotted to Pururava, the son of Sudyumna or Ila (7.20-22). This shows that women were not entitled to inherit the kingdom. Elsewhere it is said that Sudyumna divided his kingdom into three parts, Utkala got the kingdom of Utkala, Gaye that of the eastern division, the capital of which became famous as Gaya and Vinatasva as that of the western division (7.18,19). The king Yayati divided his kingdom into five parts for his five sons but as the first four sons disobeyed him, they were cursed that their kingdoms would be devoid of a king (12.12-32). Five kingdoms were known after the five sons of king Usinara, viz. Nrga, krmi, Nava, Suvrata and sibi Ausinara (13.12,13). The four Janapadas, viz.Kekayas, Madrakas, Vrsadarbhas and sayiras were known after the names of the four sons of king sibi Usinara (13.26,27). Similarly the five Janapadas Pundra, Kalinga, Anga, Variga and Suhma were known after the names of the five sons of king Bali (13.36,37). Again, the five Janapadas were collectively known as pancalas after the names of the five sons, viz. Mudgala, Srijaya, Brhasdisu, Yavinara, Vikranta and Krmilasva after the five sons of king Bahyasva. Once it is stated that as Raivata or Kakudmi was the eldest son of king Raiva, he got the kingdom of Anarta (7.30). Again, the Brahma Purana provides instances when the king

1077 i The was expelled from throne on account of various faults. famous example of king Vena is already quoted. Indra was dethroned thrice as he committed Brahmin-murder and approached Ahalya, the wife of the sage Gautama (122.50-56). Satyavrata was abandoned by his father Trayyaruna as he violated the rules and carried away a maiden while her marriage-ceremony was being performed. His father asked him to leave the city and live with the Candalas (7.98-103). As Asamanjas, the son of king Sagara, had a bad habit of throwing away the children of others in ponds, his father disinherited him and Ansuman, the son of Asamanjas, got the throne (78.40-45). As the king Janamejaya had committed the sin of brahmin-murder, he was abandoned by the citizens and had to perform an Asvamedha to expiate himself (12.11-14) 26. This shows the strength of people's voice in the matter of the succession to the throne. Similarly, it is said that when in his arrogance the king Soma abducted Tara, the wife of the sage Brhaspati, his action was not approved of by the gods (A.9). King Ruknakavaca had five sons among whom Jyamagha was driven away by his brothers and he conquered the countries and established his own kingdom (14.13Similarly, Pulastya was driven away by his brothers and 15). 25 In the Brahmana period also we see how the power of people was stronger in proportion to the greater insecurity of the sovereign.There are several cases of the latter being expell -ed from their dominions, and to their efforts to be reinstated to their former position. Dhustartu Paumsayana, king of Srijayas, was deposed by them from a principality that had existed for ten generations, but was restored by Patava cakra sthapati inspite of the resistance of Bahlika Pratipya the king Kuru (Satapatha Br.xii.9.3.1 ff.8.1.17).Dirghasravas was also banished from his kingdom (Pancavimsa Br.xv.3.25), as also Sindhuksit, who had to remain in exile for a long time before he could be restored (ibid, xii, 12-6) N.Law, Aspects of Ancient Indian Polity, PP.3-12.

1078 by praying lord Siva, he obtained the lordship of treasures (A. 97).