Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis)
by S. Anusha | 2016 | 34,012 words
This page relates ‘Ashtakarma (eight tasks of the King)’ of the study on the Nitiprakasika by Vaisampayana which deals primarily with with Dhanurveda, i.e., the science of war, weapons and military strategies of ancient Indian society. It further contains details on Niti-shastra, i.e., the science of politics and state administration but most verses of the Nitiprakashika deal with the classification and description of different varieties of weapons, based on the four groups of Mukta, Amukta, Muktamukta and Mantramukta.
Aṣṭakarma (eight tasks of the King)
The text merely mention that certain activities numbering eight forming a group are necessary for enriching the treasury of the kingdom (Nītiprakāśikā I. 50cd):
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The commentary Tattvavivṛti, citing an unknown source enumerates the eight karmas that are inevitable in strengthening the treasury:
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The inevitable eight tasks that are to be undertaken by the King are:
- kṛṣi (agriculture),
- vaṇik (trade and commerce),
- pathā (roadways),
- durga (fortification),
- setu (bridge building),
- kuñjarabandhana (maintaining the elephant force),
- khanyākara [khanyākaraḥ] (mines where gems and gold are found) and
- karadāna (revenue by taxation).
These eight tasks replenish the coffers of the kingdom.
Explaining the idea kuñjarabandhana, Tattvavivṛti says that the nurturing elephants lead to great expenses and it is to be distributed among the villages so as to reduce the cost of maintaining them becoming heavy–
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