z:\ ambedkar\vol 011\vol11 05.indd MK SJ+YS 5 10 2013/YS 18 11 2013 406
406 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
§ 2. If the King is Righteous His Subjects will be Righteous
- Once the Lord addressing the Almsmen said :
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“Brethren during such time as kings are unrighteous their ministers and officers also become unrighteous. The ministers and officers, brethren, being unrighteous, Brahmins and householders also become unrighteous. The Brahmins and householders, brethren, being unrighteous, the town-folk and villagers become unrighteous.
“But whenever, brethren, kings are righteous, then kings’ ministers and officers also become righteous. Whenever kings’ ministers and officers become righteous the Brahmins and householders also become righteous. Whenever Brahmins and householders become righteous, the town-folk and villagers also become righteous.
“When kine are crossing, if the old bull swerves, they all go swerving, following his lead. So among men, if he who is reckoned chief walks crookedly, the others crooked go.
“Similarly, the whole realm suffers when the king goes wrong. When kine are crossing, if the bull goes straight they all go straight because his course is straight. So among men, if he who’s reckoned chief walks righteously, the others live aright. The whole realm lead happy lives when kings are good.”
§ 3. It is the Social System on which Depends Political and Military Strength
The Blessed One was once dwelling in Rajagraha, on the hill called the Vultures’ Peak.
Now at that time, Ajatasatru, the son of the queen consort of Videha origin, the king of Magadha, was desirous of attacking the Vajjins, and he said to himself, “I will root out these Vajjins, mighty and powerful though they be, I will destroy these Vajjins, I will bring these Vajjins to utter ruin !”