Rajyango (Rajya Na Anga) - there are seven such limbs that deal with successful administration of the state. They refer to persons or things necessary for successful administration of state. Mahabharat explains these: (1) Swami - ruler or King, (2) Amatya - ministers or heads of departments, (3) Suhrud - friend or advisor, (4) Kosh - treasurer, (5) Rashtra - President, (6) Durga - castle or fortress and (7) Sainya - army. Thus the King should have these things to ensure successful administration.
A king should also have knowledge of the four Upayas (diplomatic means or strategies). These are: (1) Sama - persuasion through suave and convincing explanation, (2) Daan - through charitable means, (3) Bheda - creation of discord or disunity and (4) Nigraha - punishment. Shatanand also suggests a fifth Upaya of Upeksha - instilling content.
The six Gunas or diplomatic qualities are: (1) Sandhi - compromising, (2) Vigraha - a fighter, (3) Yaan - invasive, (4) Dvaidhi Bhava - dualistic accepting both points of view, (5) Samashreya - protective towards all and (6) Sthaan - firm.
There are eighteen Tirthas or significant places or persons to send spies to (for extortion of information): (1) Mantri - secretary, (2) Purohit - priest, (3) Yuvaraja - Prince, (4) Senapati - commander of the army, (5) Rashtrapala - the President, (6) Antarvashikstatha - neighbour, (7) Karagaar - one with status, (8) Koshadhyaksha - treasurer, (9) One who determines tasks to be undertaken, (10) Nyayadhisha - one with legal involvement, (11) Nagaradyaksha - one who is important in the city, (12) Karyanirmala - one who organises or assigns tasks, (13) Dharmadhyaksha - foremost in Dharma or religion, (14) Sabhadhyaksha - foremost in the community, (15) Dandapaal - who gives punishments, (16) Durgapala - who guards the fortress, (17) Rashtrapaal - the Kings body guards and (18) Atvipaal - one who lives in the forest with links to the city - outpost guard etc.
Thus a King should keep his spies secret and employ them to derive information. The spies may either be a person of his own kingdom or a person of another kingdom. In this way, they may be employed within his own kingdom to uncover wrongdoing. A secretary, priest or Prince should never be employed as a spy explains Shatanand.
There are eighteen business dealings/social matters - Vyavahaar, from which controversy can arise. For that reason Kings should have knowledge of such matters: (1) organisation of loans, (2) savings, (3) selling, (4) partnerships, (5) withdrawal of a donation, (6) break an agreement or arrangement, (7) arguments about land ownership, (8) to take something secretly in hiding, (9) an item purchased or sold which is returned or taken, (10) arguments arising from destruction of another persons crop by ones own pets/animals, (11) arguments arising from work which has been agreed, (12) severe punishment, (13) harsh words, (14) keeping of a woman in one’s house, (15) not paying wages, (16) gambling, (17) at the time of reading of a will and (18) arguments between husband and wife. These are the eighteen sources of argument that a King should know of.
The qualities of a Sabhasada (one who knows of business matters) are given: ‘Those who treat friend and foe alike, who is learned in the Vedas and Shastras, who understand Dharma, who speaks the truth, such a Sabhasadas should be employed by Kings.’
The punishable are explained: ‘Those who abandon Dharma, who are deceitful, who insult or slander saints, who inflict pain or misery upon the poor and who overstep their limitations; such persons are worthy of punishment.’ The unpunishable are also explained: ‘Brahmins, the poor, Tyagis (renounced ones), Tapasvi (penanceful), mother, father and Guru should never be punished by the King even if they are guilty of a crime.’ One should refer to Nitishastras for further information.
The use of ‘Cha’ in this Shloka - Dandyadandyascha Lakshanaiha - suggests that Kings should also have knowledge of people who should be taxed. Mitakshara explains, ‘Those with a living such as an artist etc, a child, a servant and a renounced person (Sanyasin) should not be taxed. Similarly one should not tax upon things which have been received through begging, items left from a burglary and wealth from religious means (temples wealth, money from a Yagna etc.).’
These additional duties apply to Kings but in general terms many of the ideals should be adopted by people with any position of responsibility or leadership such as employers, community leaders, governments and religious leaders. Such people should use this ‘Rajdharma’ in order to lead in such a way that it is of benefit to the majority. Our Rajnitis teach us exactly how to become effective leaders, which is of the best interest of the community. They teach us how to unite the community and get the best out of the community.