Raj Dharma vital for peace and prosperity
(‘Brahma Niti Shastra’ to ‘Rajyanga’ Raj
Dharma is Sacred)
Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao
The Hans India (31-03-2024)
{Sri Rama’s explanation of Raj Dharma
to his younger brother Bharata, Kanika’s two-way Raj Neeti to Duryodhana, Sage
Narda’s views on Raj Dharma as told to Dharmaraja, Raj Purohit Dhoumya’s
politico ethics class to Pandavas when they were in exile, and more
importantly, the various Dharmas preached by Bhishma from his death bed to
Dharmaraja in Mahabharata’s ‘Shanti’ and ‘Anushasana’ chapters, all speak of
the importance protecting and practicing Raj Dharma or Neeti even at the cost
of one’s life}-Editor Synoptic Note
Vedas, Sri Ramayana, Mahabharata and
Bhagavata have incorporated various aspects of great ‘Sanatana Dharma’ in
different contexts, including ‘Raj Dharma’, or morals, ethics, and principles
of governance to be strictly followed by the ruler. If only they are
contextualized, suiting to changing times, keeping the spirit intact, then
eternal peace and tranquility prevails incessantly everywhere. Sri Rama’s
explanation of Raj Dharma to his younger brother Bharata, Kanika’s two-way Raj
Neeti to Duryodhana, Sage Narda’s views on Raj Dharma as told to Dharmaraja,
Raj Purohit Dhoumya’s politico ethics class to Pandavas when they were in
exile, and more importantly, the various Dharmas preached by Bhishma from his
death bed to Dharmaraja in Mahabharata’s ‘Shanti’ and ‘Anushasana’ chapters,
are worth mentioning.
Kanika’s Raj Dharma was in the
background and context of Kauravas’ poorer performance than Pandavas in the
talent display of their learning experience, received from Guru Dronacharya. To
pacify aggrieved Duryodhana, his wicked uncle Shakuni engaged Kanika to guide
him about the further course of action. His Raj Dharma included qualities of
king like: overriding power, adopting penal system, guiding people on the path
of righteousness, well behaviour etc. One outstanding advice of Kanika was that
Raj Dharma included entertaining even the worst enemy until he is required and
once the necessity is thru, the same enemy ‘Shall be destroyed like a clay pot’
on a rock, absolutely without any hesitation!!!
Raj Dharma advocated by Sage Narada
was in the context of Dharmaraja’s initial days of governance from ‘Maya
Sabha.’ Emphasising the essentiality of strict adherence by the King to the
moral code and ethos established by his ancestors, Narada counseled him, among
others, to know what constitutes Dharma-Artha-Kamas, to concentrate more on
Dharma, to appoint eligible and efficient persons to assist in governance, to
spend only a part of income but not more than it, to establish an independent
news gathering and dissemination network etc.
Contents of Humble and Common Service
Code, as stated by Purohit Dhoumya, to be followed by Pandavas in anonymity, in
Virata Kingdom to serve the King in various capacities, are equally applicable
even now, to everyone engaged in some job or other. The essence is that one
needs to be utmost careful with the boss, enter the place of work cautiously
and most properly, occupy seat that absolutely suits his position, dress and
shape should not be deformed, should know the time and the context before
speaking etc. Taking advantage of intimacy with the boss, one shall not exceed
the limits and interfere in matters unconcerned etc. form part of the code.
On completion of Kurukshetra War,
victorious Dharmaraja, following his coronation, on the advice of Lord Sri
Krishna, approached Bhishma who was on the death bed made of Arjuna’s arrows
(Ampa Shaiyya). He requested Bhishma to enlighten him the essence of
omniscience, Vedas, Vedanta, and philosophical knowledge encompassing every
aspect of ‘Raj Dharma.’
Bhishma underscored the equal
importance of ‘Divine Grace’ and ‘Human Effort’ to achieve success. He said
that the king who envisions peace and harmony will be successful and can get
all comforts. The seven key components namely, head, minister, friend, treasury,
state, fort, and strength, should be identified and managed appropriately by
the king. King shall not blindly believe anyone, which does not mean to
disbelieve everyone. Welfare, development, and safety of people shall be the
priority of a king, said Bhishma.
Referring to ‘Brahma Niti Shastra,’
the ethical discipline and penal code, Bhishma said that initially people and
king were protecting each other, but with the passage of time, gradually the
Dharma got destroyed and people committed offences and destroyed Vedas. As a
result, different gods (Devatas) prayed to Brahma to rescue them. In order to
establish salvation universally. Brahma composed ‘Hundred Thousand Chapters of
Ethics’ with Sapta Sopanas, Penal Code, Dvadasha Raja Mandalas and Panchopayas,
known as ‘Brahma Niti Shastra.’
Subsequently, it was edited to 10,000
chapters by Virupaksha and named ‘Vaishalakshya.’ Later, Indra further edited
it to 5.000 chapters. It was further shrunk by Brihaspati to 3,000 chapters and
Shukracharya to 1,000 chapters. Finally, to enable its wide reach and
comprehensibility, Maharshis abbreviated it to a greater extent. Having said
this, Bhishma advised Dharmaraja to meticulously follow the principles
enunciated in this. He said that, the king shall practice righteousness on the
path of truth. And that is precisely was the Raj Dharma, said Bhishma.
When Lord Rama was in Chitrakoota, his
brother, king designate Bharatha came to plead with him for his return to
Ayodhya, abandoning the exile, and take over the reins of empire. During the
conversation between the brothers, Sri Rama highlighted various aspects of ‘Raj
Dharma’ which holds good cent per cent, even till this day. Broadly they are:
keeping people happy and listening to them, offering salutations to elders,
serving (Gurus) teachers, choose ministers with knowledge of moral code and
Shastras, better IQ, capable of face reading etc.
Rama added that king is not supposed
to deliberate on secrets either with everyone or with single individual, and
not to disclose his thoughts before they take the shape of action. He shall not
delay the work to such an extent that it spoils the work itself. It is better
to have one intelligent and efficient person with the king rather than 1000
jokers. Important was, appointing adequate Tirthas as ministers, private
secretary, prince, commander-in-chief, gate keeper, palace controller,
superintendent of jails, revenue collector, judge, accountant general, Munsif,
magistrate etc. In conclusion, Sri Rama advised Bharata that he should never,
even at the cost of his life, deviate from the path of Dharma and ‘Raj Dharma.’
The Hindu concept of Triumvirate (Tri
Murthy) consists of ‘Three Gods,’ Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara (Shiva),
believed to be manifestation of one Single Unique God, the Parabrahma or
Virat-Swaroop, who is Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omnicompetent. The Triumvirate
independently and interdependently takes care of Creation (Srushti), Constancy
(Sthithi) and Annihilation (Laya) of all living and non-living. A parallel may
be drawn between the Trinity of Hindu Mythology and the organs of governance -
legislature, executive and judiciary, the ‘Three Estates’ or the ‘Three
Pillars’ of Indian democracy. This democratic Trinity shapes the destiny of our
Great Nation. Our Constitution which is a mix of Ancient (Sanatana) and Modern
(Adhunika) Dharmas, clearly defined the roles of these three institutions, and
shall continue to be ever dynamic generally and in the context of adhering
strictly to ‘Raj Dharma,’ to keep all Indians happy for ever and ever.
Former Prime Minister Late PV
Narasimha Rao, according to his media advisor, late PVRK Prasad, invariably
used to put one question, ‘Is it Constitutional’ whenever an issue concerning
governance was brought to his notice. That was and is the greatness of our
‘Constitution’ which is nonetheless akin to ‘Brahma Niti Shastra’ or the
‘Brahma Ethical Discipline’ which fundamentally speaks among others, ‘The Raj
Dharma’ too. Why not successors ‘Keep it Up’??
{Post Script: In the
entire Globe, seldom there is an equivalent, to the Exceptional, Boundless, Brilliant,
and Absolutely Righteous centered, Ancient Vedic ‘Way of Life’ as
recorded meticulously, in the Indian, Hindu and Vedic Ethos. In other words, this
was what the ‘Sanatana Dharma’ elucidated in detail in the invaluable
Earliest Hindu Great Literatures, be it the Vedas or Ramayana or Mahabharata or
Bhagavata or any other similar work. ‘Vedic Structure’ itself was
considered as a ‘Noble Structure’ that has no comparison with any
other structure globally. This Eternal, Everlasting, Secured, Flourishing for Ages,
Intact ‘Way of Life’ has been perennially thriving like a Live
Stream, irrespective of countless social rebellions from time to time. From Atheists
of Vedic Times to the Oblivious and Intellectually Poor individuals of Modern Times,
every attempt made to weaken ‘Sanatana Dharma’ ultimately ended
in futile exercise, resulting in added resurrection}
