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THE CROWNING OF A KING

In the early Indian tradition there is nothing that quite corresponds to western political thinking, but this does not mean that questions concerning the nature of human government were not asked. It only means that different questions were asked, and they were answered in a different way. Statecraft understood as the techniques of political control, became the subject matter of an important branch of literature. In the early period, interest centered on the relation of the king to the ritual practices of the religion and his place in the divine order.

Although there are some passages that suggest the king was elected by the people, normally this could have only meant some measure of control by the tribal or village elders. From quite early times - certainly before 600 B.C. - the king was regarded as surrounded by a special sanctity. Two things probably contributed to this. One was the king's participation in the great sacrifices, most notably the horse sacrifice; the other was his membership in a class that was itself divinely ordained. The selections given here, the first of which is taken from a description of the coronation rites and the second of which is from hymns probably sung at the ceremony, emphasize both the king's power and his duty to rule according to the sacred laws of society.

KING OF KINGS

This is the Lord of Indra, this the Lord of Heaven, the Lord of Earth,
The Lord of all existing things: the one and only Lord be thou.
The Sea is regent of the floods, Agni is ruler of the land,
The Moon is regent of the stars: the one and only Lord be thou.
Thou art the King of Earthly Kings, the crown and summit of mankind:
Thou art the partner of the Gods: the one and only Lord be thou.

THE CHOSEN ONE

Here art thou: I have chosen thee. Stand steadfast and immovable.
Let all the clans desire thee: let not thy kingdom fall away.
Be even here: fall not away: be like a mountain unremoved.
Stand steadfast here like Indra's self, and hold the kingship in thy grasp.
This man hath Indra stablished, made secure by constant sacrifice.
Soma, and Brahmanaspati here present bless and comfort him!

THE ENDURING RULER

Firm is the sky, firm is the earth, and firm is all this living world;
Firm are these mountains on their base, and steadfast is this King of men.
Steadfast may Varuna the King, steadfast the God Brihaspati,
Steadfast may Indra, steadfast, too, may Agni keep thy steadfast reign.
Firm, never to be shaken, crush thy foemen, under thy feet lay those who strive against thee.
One-minded, true to thee be all the regions: faithful to thee, the firm, be this assembly!

(from Atharva Veda, VI:86,87,88)