AdminModel Answers to PYQs (2019-2024)
1] Dharmashastra presents a duty-centric worldview for individuals and communities. Comment. [2024/15m/200w/3c]
Ancient Indian political thought aka Dharmashastra, can be derived from multiple texts like the Manusmriti, Vedas, Mahabharat etc. It is a wholesome body of knowledge, covering not only political aspects but integrating with it, individual, ethical, social, as well as religious principles.
The law of karma and rebirth form the basic principles of Dharmashastra. Developing on this, it suggests that different social orders are endowed with different social responsibilities, also known as ‘dharma’. This ‘dharma’, or the ‘duty’ of the individual, supersedes all other considerations.
Dharmashastras divides society into four varnas: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaisya and Shudra. Then, there are four ashramas (stages) of life an individual goes through i.e. brahmacharya (student life), grihastha (married life), vanaprastha (retired life) and sanyas (renounced life).
The duty of an individual varies according to his varna and ashrama. Individually as well as collectively, each is to follow his/her dharma (duty). According to Rig-veda, Prithvim dharmam dhritam i.e. dharma is that which holds life on this earth. When people do not follow dharma, it will lead to arajakata (anarchy). It will lead to pralaya (catastrophe). This will bring an end to the life on earth.
Consequently, the most important duty of the king is to ensure all varnas follow their dharma. It is for this reason, the king has the rod of danda (punishment).
Dandashastras represent a rich body of political thought. As remarked by British historian Max Muller, ‘nowhere in the world, human mind has dealt with the various questions of life in such a depth as in case of India.’ [257 words]
2] Explain the sources of ancient Indian political thought. [2020/15m/200w/3c]
Like the ancient Indian literature, the sources of Indian political thought are also scattered. Several books, epics, religious texts, inscriptions, etc., throw light on different political concepts, which are also intertwined with the ideas of society, religion, economy, etc.
There are mainly two streams in Indian political thought—the Hindu tradition and the Buddhist tradition. While the Hindu tradition revolves primarily around two concepts: dharma and Danda, in the Buddhist tradition, political ideas need to be extracted from religious texts.
The Vedas are the oldest texts that mention kings, rashtra, etc. It also mentions democratic institutions like the Sabha and the Samiti. Manusmriti, another ancient literature, discusses the origin of states, the ideals of kingship, and dharma. And the Shanti Parva in the Mahabharata dwells on political philosophy, administration, diplomacy, etc. It also describes the contemporary political system.
Kautilya’s Arthshastra is another masterpiece that belongs to the tradition of the Dandashastra. It describes the elements of the state and dwells on the art of statecraft, both during war and peace.
To understand the Buddhist idea of kingship and statecraft, there are three major sources for understanding. i.e. 1) Ashvaghosha’s Buddhacharit 2) Asokvadana and 3) Jataks.
Apart from these, there are other texts like Sukra Niti, Kamandakeya Nitishastra, stone and copper inscriptions, and accounts by foreign travellers like Megesthanes, etc., that shed light on the political system and philosophy present in their period.
There is abundant literature on ancient political thought. [240 words]
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