1)
Swami
(The
Sovereign
King
Subscribing
to
monarchy
as
the
ideal
form
of
state,
Kautilya
has
accorded to the
king
"the highest
place
in
the
body-
politic".
The
Swami
is
the chief executive head of the state and,
is,
thus "the consummation
of
all
other elements".
The
word
Swami
is
derived
from
the
word
swayam
which
refers
to
self-determining.
The
Swami,
therefore,
becomes
a
living
and
animate embodiment,
which
is
subjected to
be
ruled
by
none,
does not
1
follow
any
external
rulings
and
is
liable
only
to
self-
imposed
restrictions.
He
is,
thus,
the
symbol
of
legal
and
political
authority
and
power.
Kautilya
gives
a comprehensive
list
of four broad categories
of
qualities
which
constitute
the
ideals
of
a
Swami:
(i)
Qualities
of
an
inviting
nature;
(ii)
Qualities
of
intellect
and
intuition;
(iii)
Qualities
of
enthusiasm
and
(iv)
Qualities
of
self
restraint
and
spirit.
This
categorization
of
qualities
supplements the
usual
notion
of
kingship
being
characterized
by
coercion
and
subordination
of
people.
The
king
was,
thus, not to
be
a despot,
exercising
power through
sheer
military
force,
but
was
to
rule
his
subjects
through
affection.
Accordingly,
the
duties
and
functions
that
he
is
called
upon
to
perform
are
of
two types:
(i)
Protective
Functions-
The
king
being
the
natural
guardian
and
savior
of
his
people,
Kautilya
expects
him
to
perform
the
following
protective
functions
that
he
should
put
down
violence
and
maintain
law
and order,
he
should
avert
dangers
and
command
the
army,
to redress people's
grievances,
to
punish
the
wrong-
doers
and
to administer justice
impartially
and
in
accordance
with
the sacred
law,
evidence,
history
and
enacted
law.
(ii)
Promotive
Functions-
On
the
other
hand,
his
promotive
functions
include
the
following
that
he
should
promote the
moral
and material happiness
and
welfare
of
his
people,
as
in
their happiness
lies
his
happiness and
in
their
welfare
his
welfare,
to enable
them
to
pursue
freely
their independent
efforts
in
life,
to
maintain
unity
and
solidarity,
to
reward
virtue,
to
promote
agriculture, industry
and
arts, to regulate the means
of
livelihood,
especially
of
the laborers
and
artisans
and
to encourage education and
help
students.
In
the exercise
of
these functions,
Kautilya's
king
was
all-
powerful.
The
limits
of
his
authority
were
imposed
by
the
social
and
religious
customs
of
his
state.
