Rajadharma

Rajadharma(Sanskrit:राजधर्म,romanized:rājadharma) is theSanskritterm for thedutyof thekingoremperor.^[1]The concept of therajadharmais extensively discussed in the genre ofHindu literaturecalled theDharmashastras.^[2]

Description

Rajadharma referred to the obligations of a king or emperor towards his subjects, to ensure their prosperity and peace during his reign. TheArthashastraand theShanti Parvaof theMahabharataare regarded to be prominent sources of literature regarding this concept.^[3]^[4]

The primary duty of a monarch was regarded to be the protection of his subjects, a role that included providing a sense of security for them by punishing criminals such as thieves and other wrongdoers, as well as defending the kingdom or empire from invaders.^[5]

It also included the maintenance of the social order, regarded to be necessary for the moral order.^[6]

According to theRamayana,the right to rule of kings and their divine status went hand-in-hand with the performance of their rajadharma.^[7]

Footnotes

^Reden, Sitta (2019-12-02).Handbook of Ancient Afro-Eurasian Economies: Volume 1: Contexts.Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. p. 567.ISBN 978-3-11-060494-8.
^Olivelle, Patrick; Davis, Donald R. (2017-12-08).The Oxford History of Hinduism: Hindu Law: A New History of Dharmaśāstra.Oxford University Press. p. 258.ISBN 978-0-19-100708-8.
^Chatterji, Madhumita; Zsolnai, László (2016-09-13).Ethical Leadership: Indian and European Spiritual Approaches.Springer. p. 333.ISBN 978-1-137-60194-0.
^Sivaraman, Krishna (1989).Hindu Spirituality: Vedas Through Vedanta.Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. p. 133.ISBN 978-81-208-1254-3.
^Chattopadhyaya, Brajadulal (2009).A Social History of Early India.Pearson Education India. p. 100.ISBN 978-81-317-1958-9.
^Rao, Nalini (2020-09-29).The Hindu Monastery in South India: Social, Religious, and Artistic Traditions.Rowman & Littlefield. p. 70.ISBN 978-1-7936-2238-9.
^Rocher, Ludo (2014-10-01).Studies in Hindu Law and Dharmaśāstra.Anthem Press. p. 325.ISBN 978-1-78308-315-2.

[1] Reden, Sitta (2019-12-02).Handbook of Ancient Afro-Eurasian Economies: Volume 1: Contexts.Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. p. 567.ISBN 978-3-11-060494-8.

[2] Olivelle, Patrick; Davis, Donald R. (2017-12-08).The Oxford History of Hinduism: Hindu Law: A New History of Dharmaśāstra.Oxford University Press. p. 258.ISBN 978-0-19-100708-8.

[3] Chatterji, Madhumita; Zsolnai, László (2016-09-13).Ethical Leadership: Indian and European Spiritual Approaches.Springer. p. 333.ISBN 978-1-137-60194-0.

[4] Sivaraman, Krishna (1989).Hindu Spirituality: Vedas Through Vedanta.Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. p. 133.ISBN 978-81-208-1254-3.

[5] Chattopadhyaya, Brajadulal (2009).A Social History of Early India.Pearson Education India. p. 100.ISBN 978-81-317-1958-9.

[6] Rao, Nalini (2020-09-29).The Hindu Monastery in South India: Social, Religious, and Artistic Traditions.Rowman & Littlefield. p. 70.ISBN 978-1-7936-2238-9.

[7] Rocher, Ludo (2014-10-01).Studies in Hindu Law and Dharmaśāstra.Anthem Press. p. 325.ISBN 978-1-78308-315-2.

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