The Idea of Kingship in Shukra Niti: Heera Singh Student ID

Heera singh
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The Idea of Kingship in Shukra niti

Introduction
At various times, sages have authored literature on their primary set of beliefs and ethics.
These are called Niti. There are various Niti, of which the famous are Vidur Niti, Chaanakyaa
Niti, Bhartrihari Niti, Shukra Niti. Sukranitisara, is an important treatise on Hindu political
thought and public administration. Scholars proclaimed that it is supposedly the work of 8 th
century. The pragmatic character of the book is apparent in Sukra's statement that a person can
do without grammar, logic and Vedanta, but not without Niti 1. According to Sukra the main
duty of a king is the protection of subjects and penalization of the wicked and this function
cannot be performed without the assistance of Niti. If the king adheres to the code of Niti, he is
respected but if he transgresses it then his prestige declines. So in this paper we will glorify the
ideas of Kingship given in the Nitisar of Shukrachraya.
Guru Shukracharya
Shukra, the Sanskrit word for "clear, pure" or "brightness, clearness", is the name the son of
Bhrgu and Ushana. Who was considered as the preceptor of the Daityas, and the guru of the
Asuras, identified with the planet Venus, one of the Navagrahas (with honorific, Shukracharya).
He presides over 'Shukra-war' or Friday. Sukra was a realist and an exponent of power politics.
Therefore he wrote his own Niti and explained his ideas about true admin and administration.
Like many ancient authors in India, Shukracharya too considered politics as an aspect of ethics.
He called it moral science or Niti Shastra which he considered as the basis of virtue, wealth,
enjoyment and salvation. He was in a view that it is with the help of this science that a ruler can
conquer foe and can win a friend. He further added that Nitai Shastra is superior to other
sciences because it aims at fulfilment and achievement of desire and interest of all that man
seeks and happiness which is their chief end2.
Creation Time
Determining the period of Shukracharya is a very difficult task. Based on its theme and
style, it seems to be a post-Kautilya work of Arthashastra. It seems that the name Venus
actually expresses a particular tradition of thinking, not a person. It is considered an authentic
book as a source of Indian political thought. Although there is a difference of opinion among
scholars regarding the creation of Shukranitisar, almost all modern scholars agree that it is not a
Vedic work but a post-Christian work. According to Kashiprasad Jaiswal, it is an 8th century
1
Sukranitisara , I, 7-9.
2
Krishna, Om. (2016). Political, Economic and Ethical Vision of Shukracharya in Shukra Niti. INROADS- An
International Journal of Jaipur National University. 5. 33. 10.5958/2277-4912.2016.00076.X.
1
creation. Its author can be called the philosopher of this period. Gustav Oppert, who edited this
work in 1882, asserts that this work is produced in the same period of simrti literature 3.
The Duties of Prince

Sukra explain the virtues of a true king in his Niti. He obsereved two primery functions of
the king are protection of subject and constant punishment to offenders 4. According to him the
absence of nitishastra is always dangerous to a king as a vessel which leaks. Further he states
that the king is the ruler, protector and benefactor of the people and acquired his strength by
penance5. Sukra is an Indian thinker who has opposed the notion of the king being the direct
god. Sukra has neither accepted the king as a 'god' nor considered his divine authority, but must
have clarified the divinity of his obligations.
The Ministry
The council of ministers consisted of ten ministers and the departments were about twenty
in number. The purodhã {purohita) is the most dignified chief who is called the protector of the
kingdom. The pratinidhi came next in rank to the purodhã. The pradhãna is the chief of the
council of minister. The sachiva is the minister for war. The foreign minister is called the
mantra. The prãdvivãka is the minister of law and justice. The pandita knew the scriptures and
jurisprudence. The sumantraka was in charge of the consolidated fund, agricultural productivity
and expenditure. The amãtya was revenue minister. The minister for diplomacy and the head
of the intelligence department was duta.
Judicial Administration
There used to be a panel of three, five or seven jurors mostly recruited from the Brahmin
caste. They were to be experts in the Vedas, dharma and the mundane rules of behaviour.
Traditionally the judicial positions were reserved for the Brahmins since they used to study the
legal literature. But Sukra opens the door to judicial appointments to all the castes. Sukra
condemns secret (rahasi) judicial procedures and is strong advocate of quick disposal of cases.
He has laid down the advisory functions of the prãdvivaka with regard to the king. In judicial
system several factors were taken into considerations. Some of them were pramãna (sources of
knowledge), hetu (logical argument), ãcharana (the conduct of the litigants, shapatha (oaths),
nripagya (the orders of the king), vãdisa pratipatti (that which was meant to give solace to the
accuser).
Financial Administration
3
Varma, Vishwanath Prasad. "SOME ASPECTS of PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION in THE SUKRANITI." The Indian Journal
of Political Science, vol. 23, no. 1/4, 1962, pp. 302-08. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41853941. Accessed 30 Apr.
2020.
4
Sukranitisara , I, 27-28.
5
Ibid, 39-40.
2
Control of the economy is the essential obligation of the state according to Sukra. A king
who attempts to grab the wealth of the people is called a thief or robber. Sukra permits
taxation upto 33% of the gross produce. He prescribes certain proportions for the disbursement
of state revenues. For defence use 50%, for grants, subsidies, subventions and charities 8%, for
general welfare and people's development 8%, for general administration, appointments 8%,
Royal establishment 8% and for treasury reserve 16%.
Military Administration
Sukara divided the army into different groups under unique names. Each group contains
different amount of soldiers. Adhipa was in control of 5 or 6 members. Pattipãla was in control
of 30 members. Shatãnika was in control of 100 members of the army. Anusatika was the
Officer even higher than the shatãnika. Nãyaka was the officer in control of 20 elephants and 20
horses.
Rural Administration
As Sukra describes in every town there should have every a headman, an Accountant, a
revenue-collector and the collector of duties and tolls. The officers and servants of the kingdom
should live outside the confines of the villages and should not make their entrance unless they
have duly authorized permits. There is reference to town planning in the Sukraniti and the
author mentions that houses should be built according to a system, krama and the localities
should be arranged according to a line called samudayena panktitah.
Conclusion
At the end of this paper we can say that Shukraniti has an important place in ancient Indian
political thinking. Manu is basically a theological thinker; Kautilya is an economic thinker, while
Sukra is a political thinker. That is why he has a special place and importance in ancient Indian
political thought. Shukraniti is the only book in which clearly the order of preference of
ministers, difference in salary, office etc. is revealed. Sukra has clarified the distinction between
the state and the nation and has clarified that control of the national community gives it the
form of the state. Thus Sukra has given a detailed description of the political system found
under the monarchical system of governance of his era.
3
Bibliography
Books
 Major B.D Basu, The Sukraniti, Sudhindranatha Vasu, Bahadurganj, 1914.
Online resources
 Krishna, Om. (2016). Political, Economic and Ethical Vision of Shukracharya in Shukra
Niti. INROADS- An International Journal of Jaipur National University. 5. 33.
10.5958/2277-4912.2016.00076.X.
 Varma, Vishwanath Prasad. "SOME ASPECTS of PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION in THE
SUKRANITI." The Indian Journal of Political Science, vol. 23, no. 1/4, 1962, pp. 302-08.
JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41853941. Accessed 30 Apr. 2020.
Third Semester
Assignment one- The context of ‘Shi’ism’ in Islam with the Reference of Shia Theology
Assignment Two- On Defining the Tawhid: Reception of ‘Monotheism’ in Islam
Fourth Semester
Assignment One- An Analysis of Ibn 'Arabi’s Wahdat-i-Wujud
Assignment Two- Reception of ‘Reform’ in Islam with Special Reference of the Works of Tariq
Ramadan

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The Duties of Prince

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