High over all classes is the King.  He is the living symbol of strength and power.  He is “the tiger among men,” the “bull of the Bharata race,” and his form and features bear the visible impress of the Most High.  The whole arduous business of government rests on his shoulders.  He cannot appeal to his subjects to help him in carrying out good administration nor can he leave his duties to others.  For to beseech and to renounce are both against the laws of his order (Vana Parva, p. 457).  At the utmost he can employ counsellors to advise him, but their numbers must never exceed eight (Canti Parva, p. 275).  In any case they only tender advice when asked (Udhyog Parva, p. 100), and the full responsibility of all acts rests on the King only.  It is he who must keep up the arsenals, the depots, the camps, the stables for the cavalry, the lines for the elephants, and replenish the military storehouses with bows and arrows.  It is he who must maintain in efficient repair his six different kinds of citadels—­his water citadels, his earth citadels, his hill citadels, his human citadels, his forest citadels, and his mud citadels (Canti Parva, p. 277).  It is he who must see that the capital has abundant provisions, impassable trenches, impenetrable walls; that it teems with elephants, cavalry horses, and war chariots.  He must maintain an efficient staff of spies to ascertain the strength of neighbouring monarchs and do his utmost to cause dissension among their servants (Canti Parva, p. 224).  The War Office and the Foreign Office are alike under his immediate headship.  It is for him to conclude treaties, to lead to battle his armies, and during peace to keep them prepared for war (Canti Parva, p. 228).  But the duty which comes before all others is to protect his subjects.  That, indeed, is imposed on him as a religious duty.  “For having protected his Kingdom a King becomes sanctified and finally sports in Heaven” (Canti Parva, p. 68).  “Whether he does or does not do any other religious acts, if only he protects his subjects he is thought to accomplish all religion.” (ibid., p. 193).

In return for the proper discharge of his innumerable tasks, he is regarded by his subjects as the incarnation of Indra.  He is entitled to a sixth share of the gross revenue of the country.  Fearful penalties attach to the infringement of his rights.  “That man who even thinks of doing an injury to the King meets with grief here and Hell hereafter” (Canti Parva, p. 221).  “He will be destroyed like a deer that has taken poison.”  On the other hand, should the King fail to meet his obligations—­and above all, if he does not protect his subjects—­he offends grievously, “These persons should be avoided like a leaky boat on the sea, a preceptor who does not speak, a priest who has not studied the Scriptures, a King who does not grant protection” (Canti Parva, p. 176).  “A King who does not protect his kingdom takes upon himself a quarter of its sins” (Drona Parva, p. 625).  In the last resort his subjects will be freed from their allegiance.  “If a powerful King approaches kingdoms torn by anarchy from desire of annexing them to his dominions the people should go forward and receive the invader with respect.”