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Harshacharita (socio-cultural Study)

by Mrs. Nandita Sarmah | 2014 | 67,792 words

This page relates ‘Part 2.1: Responsibility towards the Family and the Citizen� of the English study on the Harshacharita: A Sanskrit (poetical work) which can be studied as a Historical book of Indian society during the 7th century. It was originally written by Banabhatta who based his Harsacarita on the life of the Gupta emperor Harshavardhana. This study researches the religion, philosophy, flora and fauna and society of ancient India as reflected in the Harsha-Charita.

Go directly to: Footnotes.

Part 2.1: Responsibility towards the Family and the Citizen

The king showed great responsibility towards the family and the citizen alike. As a father, king Prabhākaravardhana showed responsibility, when Rājyaśrī was brought-up and her marriage time was coming. It is found in his conversation with his wife queen ۲śdzī.[1] The king must regard his own happiness as indissolubly connected with that of his subjects. Therefore, the king Prabhākaravaradhana advised prince Ჹṣa, that he should always be conscious about the happiness of the citizens.[2] In fact, the king alone can’t strengthen the bond of good-will, fraternity and mutual understanding among their employees. That relation had been expressed by the king Prabhākaravaradhana by heart and soul, when he was in death-bed.[3] It is supported by Kautilya also.[4] The relation between the king and the fellow citizens bears the most significant role for cohesive bonding between the people. It is seen in the Ჹṣacarita, after the death of the king Prabhākaravardhana, the people of ٳṇvīś immersed themselves in deep sorrow and then some people destroyed their unparalleled sorrow by fasting, some killed themselves by falling from precipices, and some resorted to the forest etc.[5]

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

devi, taruṇībhūtā ٲ rājyaśri�. etadīyā guṇavatteva kṣaṇamapi hṛdayānnāpayāti me Գ. yauvanārambha eva ca kanyākānāmindhanībhavanti pitara� santāpālanasya�..., Ibid.,IV. p. 68

[2]:

ܰ� ca ⲹ� ca vaṃśaśca prāṇāśca paralokaśca tvayi me ٳ󾱳�. yathā mama tathā sarvāsā� prajānām, Ibid.,V.p.79

[3]:

parirakṣyantām� parijana� paripālyatām, Ibid.,V.p.87

[4]:

prajāsukhe ܰ� rājña� ca hite hitam. nātmaⲹ� 󾱳ٲ� rājna� � tu ⲹ� hitam, ٳśٰ, I.19.34

[5]:

Ჹṣacarita, V.p.89

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