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Moral Order and Political Authority: An Interpretative Study of Their Evolution from the Early Vedic to Dharmaśāstra Period

Author:R.U.S. Prasad
Series:Sanctum Studies in Indian Intellectual, Cultural, and Historical Traditions
Binding:Hardcover
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About the Book
How did ideas of moral order shape the emergence and exercise of political authority in ancient India? Moral Order and Political Authority examines the evolving relationship between ethical principles, social institutions, and political power, from the early Vedic period to the development of Dharmaśāstra thought.

Beginning with the Vedic concept of ṛta, or cosmic order, and its relationship to the evolving idea of dharma, the study explores the intellectual foundations of political authority, the doctrine of matsyanyāya, and the emergence of the state. It considers how the institutions of varṇa and āśrama informed the social framework within which political authority developed, before turning to the rise of kingship, the legitimising role of royal consecration, and the moral obligations of the ruler embodied in rājadharma.

The analysis extends to the practical exercise of power through diplomacy, coercion, administrative organisation, territorial expansion, and warfare. Examining the principles and strategies of statecraft, the book investigates the relationship between the ethical responsibilities of rulers and the political necessities of preserving order and maintaining sovereignty.

Moving beyond monarchical traditions, the study considers republican polities, Buddhist and Jain perspectives on political and moral authority, and Aśoka's conception of dhamma as an instrument of governance. These alternative approaches illuminate the diversity of ancient Indian political thought and the changing relationship between moral ideals and the institutions of power.

Bringing together intellectual, political, and religious history, Moral Order and Political Authority offers an interpretative exploration of the ways in which moral principles informed, legitimised, and constrained political authority in ancient India. It will be of interest to scholars and students of ancient Indian history, political thought, religious traditions, and the history of governance.
About the Author
R.U.S. Prasad

R.U.S. Prasad is a scholar of ancient Indian history, political thought, and religious traditions. He holds a PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and has undertaken postdoctoral research as an Associate in the Department of South Asian Studies at Harvard University. He has also been a Visiting Research Fellow at the Stanford Center for International Development, Stanford University.

His published works include The Rig-Vedic and Post-Rig-Vedic Polity (1500 BCE–500 BCE), River and Goddess Worship in India: Changing Perceptions and Manifestations of Sarasvati, and The Origins of Human Rights: Ancient Indian and Greco-Roman Perspectives.

Before pursuing his scholarly interests in ancient Indian intellectual and political history, he held several senior positions in the Government of India, including Secretary to the Government of India and Member of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal. He has also served as an expert and consultant to the International Telecommunication Union and the Universal Postal Union, both specialised agencies of the United Nations.

His research interests encompass the evolution of political institutions, concepts of moral and religious order, and the historical foundations of governance and political authority.
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