Thursday, September 23, 2010

raaja dharma is curious

नृशंसमनृशंसं  वा प्रजारक्षणकारणात्।
पातकं वा सदोषं वा कर्तव्यम् रक्षता सदा॥
राज्यभारनियुक्तानां एष धर्मः सनतनःI
श्रीमद्वाल्मीकिरामयणम् बालकाण्डं  २५-१८
nṛśaṁsamanṛśaṁsaṁ  vā prajārakṣaṇakāraṇāt|
pātakaṁ vā sadoṣaṁ vā kartavyam rakṣatā sadā||
rājyabhāraniyuktānāṁ eṣa dharmaḥ sanatanaḥ
śrīmadvālmīkirāmayaṇam bālakāṇḍaṁ  25-18

We find an apparent conflict between ethics and political duty even in the first ever Kaaya in Sanskrit. 
The first and foremost duty of a ruler is to look after the welfare of his subjects, this the the eternal duty ordained to him.  In the process of ensuring the welfare of his own people the king may do things which are praiseworthy and acceptable to all or at times he may have to do things which may not be popular at all. The action may involve committing sin in the general sense, the action may be condemnable in the eyes of the onlookers. but the superior dharma of a king that will overshadow and act in conflict with the copybook virtues is to ensure the welfare of his own subjects.

The laws of governance are quite complicated.  The government  may have to use cruel tricks and heavy punitive measures to shatter rebellious moves against the integrity of his Nation. In diplomacy it may be forced to tell utter lies and  resort to colourable means like espionage to safeguard the Nations interest.  It may be forced to be tough and intolerant against groups whose ideas may be noble but pedagogic especially when dry principles may cut deep at the root of the sovereignty of the Nation. Every country will have its own secret sins but such sins committed to safeguard the welfare and unity of the Nation usually become symbols of national pride. When it comes to one's own country nothing can be wrong if it is done for its welfare.

--
।श्रीकृष्णो रक्षतु।
|śrīkṛṣṇo rakṣatu|
Have a nice and happy day
with profound respect and warm regards
K V Ananthanarayanan
(kanfusion)
blog   http://kanfusion.blogspot.com/
त्यजन्तु बान्धवाः सर्वे निन्दन्तु गुरवो जनाःI
तदापि परमानन्दो गोविन्दो मम जीवनंII
let all my relatives abandon me, let the great people insult me, still I am in supreme bliss since my life  is GOVINDA alone.
Iकृष्णात् परं किमपि तत्वं अहं न जाने"I
लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु।
lokāḥ samastāḥ sukhino bhavantu|

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