Dharmaja asked Bhishma thus: “O grandsire, what is the difference between a common man and a king. I think there is no difference between the two. Both are having two hands, two legs and one head. In that case, how will a King keep control over his subjects, protect them and punish them. How will a King be equivalent to God. Kindly tell me.” asked Dharmaja.
Bhishma continued to say:
“O Dharmaja! In Kritayuga, there was no king. Only Dharma prevailed. All were acting according to Dharma. One was protecting the other. Gradually, greediness and selfishness entered the minds of human beings. Dharma began to diminish from time to time. Men were addicted to evils. Desires sprouted in the minds of human beings. Unable to control the desires, they developed hatred and enmity upon others. They gave up studying Vedas. Adharma prevailed rampantly.
At that juncture, Indra and other divine bodies went to Brahma. “O God Brahma! On earth, studying Vedas diminished. Yajnas and Yagas are not being performed. Dharma declined.” said Indra.
Brahma smiled. “I will take remedial steps. Dont worry.” said Brahma.
All the divine bodies went to Lord Vishnu and told him about the evolution of Neeti Sastra and prayed him to depute one efficient person to execute the same in the entire universe. Lord Vishnu created a divine personality with his Amsa. He was called Viraja. Lord Vishnu made him the King of this Universe. But he refused to rule the universe. Kardama was the son of Viraja. Kardama also refused to rule the universe.
Ananga was the son of Kardama. Ananga was made the first King of this Universe. Ananga ruled this Universe as per the precepts in Neeti Sastra. Ananga applied Danda Neeti to his subjects. Later his son, Neeti succeeded him. He married Suneedha, daughter of Mrutyu. Venu was born to him.
Venu was succumbed to desires and lust. He was teasing his subjects. Great sages and saints churned his right thigh with Darbhas (long grass). From his right thigh, a black, fierce form was born. He was called Asuchi. The sages and saints said: “Nisheeda Nisheeda” (means sit, sit). Hence, the descendants of Asuchi were called as Nishadhas. Nishadhas lived in the Vindhya mountain regions. They were cruel and wicked.
Later, the sages and saints churned the right arm of Venu. A divine personality with natural armour, bow and arrows, chanting vedas, was born. Immediately, Danda Neeti enunciated in the Neeti Sastra influenced him. That divine personality asked the sages and saints the purpose for which he was created.
“Your name is Vainya. You have to shed anger, greediness, wickedness, desires, and egoism and treat the people in the Universe equally. You have to follow the Neeti Sastra and protect Dharma. You should rule the Universe without giving importance to your personal feelings and desires and without fear or favour. You have to execute Danda Neeti and protect Dharma. You have to protect Vedas and Vedangas. You have to avert inter-change of castes and protect Brahmins and righteous persons.” said sages and saints.
“O sages and saints! With the help of Brahmins, I will execute the works entrusted by you.” said Vaina. Brahmins also agreed to assist Vainya in ruling the Universe.
Then all the sages and saints crowned Vainya the King and Emperor of the entire Universe. Sukra was appointed as Chief Priest. Sarasvata community in Valakhilyas was appointed as Ministers. Garga was appointed as Chief Astrologer. Indra and Kubera provided sufficient funds. Thus, Vainya ruled the entire Universe following Neeti Sastra and Danda Neeti. In the ruling of Vainya, all the people on earth lived peacefully, enjoying worldy pleasures.
O Dharmaja! As the king saved brahmins and people from great disaster, he was called Kshatriya. Therefore, all the descendants of Vainya were called Kshatriyas. All the descendants of Vainya ruled this Universe, following Neeti Sastra and Danda Neeti. As Vainya descended from Lord Vishnu, henceforth, all the kings were regarded as descendants of Vishnu. Therefore, ruling of people was entrusted to Kshatriyas.
Wealth was born from the forehead of Vishnu. Wealth was married to Dharma. Ardha was their son. Therefore, Dharma, wealth and Ardha are always under the influence the King. Therefore, King is above all, though he is having one head, two hands and two legs. He is different and separate from other humans. He is pious, righteous and virtuous. He is entitled to attain Svarga. King descended from Vishnu only is capable of executing Neeti sastra and Danda Neeti. Therefore, Varna-Ashrama Dharmas, Customs and Practices, Vedas, Puranas, Itihasas etc. will be under the control of King. With the blessings of Lord Vishnu, King was endowed with beauty, prowess, tact, temper etc. Therefore, King was treated equivalent to God.
Bhishma continued to say:
“O Dharmaja! In Kritayuga, there was no king. Only Dharma prevailed. All were acting according to Dharma. One was protecting the other. Gradually, greediness and selfishness entered the minds of human beings. Dharma began to diminish from time to time. Men were addicted to evils. Desires sprouted in the minds of human beings. Unable to control the desires, they developed hatred and enmity upon others. They gave up studying Vedas. Adharma prevailed rampantly.
At that juncture, Indra and other divine bodies went to Brahma. “O God Brahma! On earth, studying Vedas diminished. Yajnas and Yagas are not being performed. Dharma declined.” said Indra.
Brahma smiled. “I will take remedial steps. Dont worry.” said Brahma.
- Brahma created Neeti Sastra (Moral Science). In that he created King, Minister, citadel, treasury, friends, collecting news, Danda neeti (penal code); he created three kinds of persons viz, enemies, friends and neutrals; sending emissaries and making peace pacts etc., and included four paths to be followed by human beings viz, Dharma, Ardha, Kama and Moksha. This text consisted of one lakh chapters. It was to be followed by the entire universe to keep it pure and spotless.
- At that time, a divine body called Visalaksha was born from the forehead of Brahma. That Divine body had no beginning and end; he was the creator of this universe; he was ancient. Siva was born in the name of Visalaksha. Visalaksha studied the one lakh chapters of Neeti Sastra. Visalaksha thought that the life and wisdom of human beings was not sufficient even to study the said Neeti Sastra. Hence he abridged the said Neeti Sastra into ten thousand chapters.
- Later that abridged edition was studied by Mahendra who abridged the same into five thousand chapters.
- Later Brihaspati abridged the same into three thousand chapters.
- Then Sukracharya abridged the same into one thousand chapters. That was called Sukra Neeti.
- Later several sages and saints composed the said Sukraneeti into small volumes.
All the divine bodies went to Lord Vishnu and told him about the evolution of Neeti Sastra and prayed him to depute one efficient person to execute the same in the entire universe. Lord Vishnu created a divine personality with his Amsa. He was called Viraja. Lord Vishnu made him the King of this Universe. But he refused to rule the universe. Kardama was the son of Viraja. Kardama also refused to rule the universe.
Ananga was the son of Kardama. Ananga was made the first King of this Universe. Ananga ruled this Universe as per the precepts in Neeti Sastra. Ananga applied Danda Neeti to his subjects. Later his son, Neeti succeeded him. He married Suneedha, daughter of Mrutyu. Venu was born to him.
Venu was succumbed to desires and lust. He was teasing his subjects. Great sages and saints churned his right thigh with Darbhas (long grass). From his right thigh, a black, fierce form was born. He was called Asuchi. The sages and saints said: “Nisheeda Nisheeda” (means sit, sit). Hence, the descendants of Asuchi were called as Nishadhas. Nishadhas lived in the Vindhya mountain regions. They were cruel and wicked.
Later, the sages and saints churned the right arm of Venu. A divine personality with natural armour, bow and arrows, chanting vedas, was born. Immediately, Danda Neeti enunciated in the Neeti Sastra influenced him. That divine personality asked the sages and saints the purpose for which he was created.
“Your name is Vainya. You have to shed anger, greediness, wickedness, desires, and egoism and treat the people in the Universe equally. You have to follow the Neeti Sastra and protect Dharma. You should rule the Universe without giving importance to your personal feelings and desires and without fear or favour. You have to execute Danda Neeti and protect Dharma. You have to protect Vedas and Vedangas. You have to avert inter-change of castes and protect Brahmins and righteous persons.” said sages and saints.
“O sages and saints! With the help of Brahmins, I will execute the works entrusted by you.” said Vaina. Brahmins also agreed to assist Vainya in ruling the Universe.
Then all the sages and saints crowned Vainya the King and Emperor of the entire Universe. Sukra was appointed as Chief Priest. Sarasvata community in Valakhilyas was appointed as Ministers. Garga was appointed as Chief Astrologer. Indra and Kubera provided sufficient funds. Thus, Vainya ruled the entire Universe following Neeti Sastra and Danda Neeti. In the ruling of Vainya, all the people on earth lived peacefully, enjoying worldy pleasures.
O Dharmaja! As the king saved brahmins and people from great disaster, he was called Kshatriya. Therefore, all the descendants of Vainya were called Kshatriyas. All the descendants of Vainya ruled this Universe, following Neeti Sastra and Danda Neeti. As Vainya descended from Lord Vishnu, henceforth, all the kings were regarded as descendants of Vishnu. Therefore, ruling of people was entrusted to Kshatriyas.
Wealth was born from the forehead of Vishnu. Wealth was married to Dharma. Ardha was their son. Therefore, Dharma, wealth and Ardha are always under the influence the King. Therefore, King is above all, though he is having one head, two hands and two legs. He is different and separate from other humans. He is pious, righteous and virtuous. He is entitled to attain Svarga. King descended from Vishnu only is capable of executing Neeti sastra and Danda Neeti. Therefore, Varna-Ashrama Dharmas, Customs and Practices, Vedas, Puranas, Itihasas etc. will be under the control of King. With the blessings of Lord Vishnu, King was endowed with beauty, prowess, tact, temper etc. Therefore, King was treated equivalent to God.
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