How Does India's PM Modi Fare With This Vedic Ethos
The evil head of a kingdom always provokes revolt and the people rise against him and overthrow him. So does Veda order to throw over the evil king or the greedy trickster ruler? But a good king who is himself a pious person, who selflessly conducts his laws and keeps his people happy, it is only then, his people will observe all social laws and will be noble people.
THE KING OR RULER
1. The King or Prime Minister according to Veda should have these qualifications:-
“Brahmacharyeņa tapasaa raajaa2 raaşţram viraķşati”
(Atharva Veda XI-5-17)
2. RAAJAA – is a derivative of ‘Raajŗ’ “Deeptow” – to glow, illuminate, shine – he should be praiseworthy &
popular. Raja, in Veda, does not mean a king. It may be any illustrious strong, virtuous person, with love for his people. (Dhatupath Bhawadigaņ No.894)
The hymn explains:-
Raajaa – The king or the Prime Minister (Viraķşati) is duty bound to protect perfectly, (tapasaa) very wisely and diligently (raaşţram) his kingdom and it (brahma) is only then he can grow the State to great prosperity and strength.
According to this hymn, a person who is fully dedicated to his country and people and who is learned, wise, active, dexterous and powerful should be selected, as the head of the nation and country. There is no question of any hierarchy or lineage system in the selection of the head of a kingdom.
“Baahoo Raajañyah Kŗtah” (Yajur Veda XXXI – 11)
Baahoo: The Prime Minister has two arms, with their appendages, hands and fingers etc.
If someone attacks someone, it is the arms which go forward and protect the body. it is their specific duty to protect the whole body as a defensive organ. In this way, it serves as an agent of defence and offence. In the case of a nation, it is like Ministries of Defence & Home. They are also called Baahoo Bandhanaat.
“Baahoo means binding agents and system”.
This hold is for dangerous persons who have criminal intentions. They are to be strongly controlled and held tight. So, Bahoo is an agent to hold or control society.
The other hold is a gentle embrace, which shows praise and appreciation, as one does to a good person etc. appreciation of people’s good doings. In this way arms function like the Home Ministry of a country; because it is the duty of this ministry to thoroughly catch hold of the evil element of the society for punishment and encourage and praise, and show warmth and reward those people, who serve the nation by performing their duties well.
In short, the arms thus serve the body as Defence, Offence and Home Ministries of a nation.
Again, Lord Manu describes the king as an amalgamation of the following qualities:-
“Indra anila yamarkaaņaam agneshcha varuņasya cha
Chandra Vitteshayowshchaiva maatraa nirhŗtya shaashvateeh”
(Manu Smŗti VII-4)
(Indra) He should be the epitome of great potential and might, that is powerful and strong (anila) fast like wind and force, (Yama) strong, controller and just administrator and preserver of all laws also be furious and harsh to evil, (Chandra) cool and pleasant in temperament like moon and watchful to manage (Vittesha) his treasures, vaults and finances, so that they grow and do not have deficit budgets.
The person selected as the Head of the country must have the above qualifications before one could think of the prosperity and well-being of the nation and the country.
“Sve Sve dharma nivistaanaam sarvesaam aanupoorvashah
Varnaanaam aashramaanaam cha raajaa srsto abhirakshitaa”
(Manu Smriti VII-35)
The selected Head of the State should have the capability to make (aashrame) everyone function in his individual order of life, (varņaanaam) in his profession (sve sve dharma) such that they perform their social duties faithfully, in all their vocations.
Yajur Veda warns the king thus:-
“Kşatrasya yonirasi kşatrasya naabhirasi
maa twaa hinseen maamaa hinseeh”
(Yajur Veda XX-1)
It says:-
Oh King! (Yoni asi) you are the source or the centre of law, for protection from (Kşatrasya) disintegration. You are (naabhi) the binding force, which (kşatrasya) saves us from the dissolution and degeneration of society, nation or the country
Veda again explains:-
“Yatra brahma cha kşatram cha samyanchow charatah saha
Tam lokam puņyam prajñeşam yatra devaah saha agninaa”
(Yajur Veda XX-25)
It states:-
Remember – (Yatra) when or wherever (brahma) growth, prosperity and (Kşatram cha) prevention from disintegration or loss, both are thoroughly observed together, (tam lokam) in those circumstances or situations. (Puņyam prajñeşam) may it be known to you, that there resides happiness and proliferation and prosperity and (Yatra) it is on this principle that what (devah) the wise act (saha agninaa) diligently, dexterously and industriously.
The King should be careful, to protect the savings of the nation and not to squander and waste for wrong and wasteful purposes, and on non-productive projects.
Veda advises the King thus:-
“Shiro me shreeh Yasho mukham (5)
Jihvaa me bhadram (6)
Baahu me Balam Indriyam hastow me karma Veeryam
aatmaa kşatram uro mama (7)
(Yajur Veda XX-5,6,7)
The King (shiro me shree) should always bear in his mind, the sustenance & the preservation of his people (Yasho mukham). His actions and administration should be such that his people have nothing but praise in their speech for him. (Baahoo Balam) He should have power and strength to hold the whole country & the society and save them from all the evils and disintegrations. All his administrators and workers should be labourious and active, (karma and Veeryam) firm in their duties strong and active in all accomplishments. May he always (uro) in his heart (kşatram) bear that the society does not disintegrate; rather his people may attain progressive prosperity.
The king must always feel confident and be so strong that he could proudly say:-
“Kŗtam me dakşiņe haste jayo me savya aahitah”
(Atharva Veda VII-50-8)
“May my right-hand work so hard, and virtuously, that my left hand may enjoy the victory and total accomplishments?”
Veda advises the king again:-
“Chakşuşmate shŗņvate te braveemi maa nah prajaam reerişo maa uta veeraan”
(Yajur Veda XXXV-7)
Oh king! Always (chakşuşmat) be vigilant with open eyes and look to the State affairs and (shŗņvata) always (te braveemi) lend patient ear to the people’s complaints, be watchful and look to the best of the nation.
Lord Manu lays special stress on the moral and ethics of a king or the Head of the country. He says:-
“Indriyaaņaam jaye yogam samaatişţhed divaanisham
Jitendriyo hi shaknoti vashe sthaapayitum prajaah”
(Manu Smŗti VII-44)
The king should, day and night, keep all his senses (Jaye) under his strong control. Such a king who himself observes all social ethics and upholds them, it is only such a king who can (Vashe sthaapitum) keep under control and hold and guide (prajaa) his people and nation, on high social and national ethics. He should himself observe all social codes and it is then his people would follow.
It is often said “Yathaa raajaa Yathaa prajaa”, that is, “as is the king so is his subject”.
In my opinion after analyzing what Vedas commands, almost all the qualities are the basis of Prime Minister Modi’s ethos towards protecting us taking forward the nation keeping in mind the welfare of all irrespective relation caste and creed punishing the evil and the seditious anti-nationals.
His stature is the leader of the word to reach out and help the needy globally has been recognized by the world.
I would like to add that it is after centuries we have a Prime Minister/Ruler in our country who has brought at fantastic change within short period in 8 years by following the Vedic ethos of how the country should be ruled in terms of Protection and Prosperity and Progress for one and all living in Bharatvarsh.
The author is Founder Trusteed, Dr Satyakam Bharadwaj Vedic Research Foundation
