Mahabharata’s Shanti Parva and its Learnings on Good Governance

Abstract

Mahabharata, this rich epic of Hindus is an intricately woven tableau comprising wisdom and insights for the inheritors of this legacy. Mahabharata is not just about kingdom and regalia; rather, it enunciates the nuanced understanding of governance and serves as an impeccable guide to stewardship. The main objective of this paper is to critically examine key dimensions of governance, specifically Raj dharma, justice, the dire need for a strong ruler and the safety and security of subjects, as delineated in the Shanti Parva. This conceptual paper is based on qualitative research methods. To do so, the existing literature on this topic has been dealt with and this paper is based on theoretical interpretation of books, articles and relevant websites. Despite not having civic democracies back in those days, this research has eventually come up with some ingenious parallels between the administrative practices of those days and contemporary precepts of effective governance.

Keywords: Ancient Indian Political Thought, Justice, Mahabharata, Raj Dharma, Shanti Parva