The ancient Hindu theory of government is fully disclosed in the _Mahabharata_, the most majestic work ever produced by the human intellect, a work, too, which is to-day as popular with Indians as when 40 centuries ago it was chanted to instruct the youth and beguile the tedium of the princes of Hastinapura. Unlike all systems of government known to the West, the Hindu system contains no popular element whatever. In it we find no Witanagemote in which the nobles may advise the monarch; still less has it any place for a _comitia centuriata_, with its stormy masses of spearmen, to scrutinize and control the encroachments of the Royal prerogative. In the kingdoms described In the _Mahabharata_ the inhabitants are rigidly divided into four wholly distinct and separate classes (_Udhyog Parva_, p. 67, Roy's translation). First come the Brahmans whose duty it is to study, to teach, to minister at sacrifices--receiving in return gifts from, "known" or, as we should say, respectable persons. Then follow the _Kshattriyas_ or the warrior class, whose whole life has to be spent in fighting and in warlike exercises. Thirdly come the _Vaisyas_ who acquire merit by accumulating wealth through commerce, cattle-breeding, and agriculture. Fourthly, we have the _Sudras_, or serfs, who are bound to obey the other three classes, but who are forbidden to study their scriptures or partake in their sacrifices. 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