THE QUALIFICATIONS OF MINISTERS AND MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLIES

"Let a king appoint seven or eight good, righteous and clever ministers who are natives of the country, are thoroughly conversant with the Vedaas and the Shaatraas, are very brave and courageous, whose judgement seldom errs, who come from a good family and are well-tried men.
Even an act easy in itself becomes difficult to be accomplished by a man when single-handed. How much more so then, is the great work of the government of a country by a man single-handed. It is, therefore, a most dangerous thing to make one man a despotic ruler, or entrust a single man with sole management of the affairs of the State.

Let the Head of State, then, constantly consult with his clever with his clever and earned ministers on the affairs of the State, such as:- 1. Peace. 2. War 3. Defense - quietly protecting his own country against a foreign attack and waiting for an opportunity. 4. Offence - attacking an enemy when he finds himself strong enough to do. 5. Proper management of the internal affairs of the State, the exchequer and the Army. 6. Pacification of the newly



conquered countries by freeing them from all kinds of disturbance. Let him daily reflect on the six subjects.

Having ascertained the individual opinion of each of his ministers and other members of the Assembly, let him abide by the decision of the majority and do what is beneficial for him as well for others.

Let him likewise appoint other ministers who are men of great integrity, highly intellectual, of resolute minds, of great organizing power and of vast experience.

Let him appoint good, energetic, strong, and clever officers, as many as he requires, for the due transaction of the business of the State. Under them let brave, courageous strong men of great integrity and of noble lineage fill position involving great responsibility and risk, whilst let timid and faint-hearted men be employed for the administration of internal affairs.

Let him also appoint an Ambassador who comes from a good family, is very clever, perfectly honest, able to read the inmost thoughts of others and to foretell future, developments and events by observing the expression of faces and other significant signs and acts, and is well-versed in all the Shaastraas - branches of knowledge.

He alone is fit person to be appointed an Ambassador who is very much devoted to politics, loves his country with all his heart, is of irreproachable character, pure in heart, highly intelligent and endowed with an excellent memory, who can adapt himself to the manners and customs of different countries and different times, is good looking, fearless and a master of elocution." MANU 7: 54-57, 60-62, 64.