Shloka 11
Dhruva-vaṁśa Continuation: Utkala’s Renunciation, Aṅga’s Sacrifice, and the Birth of Vena
Prelude to Pṛthu
मत्वा तं जडमुन्मत्तं कुलवृद्धा: समन्त्रिण: । वत्सरं भूपतिं चक्रुर्यवीयांसं भ्रमे: सुतम् ॥ ११ ॥
matvā taṁ jaḍam unmattaṁ kula-vṛddhāḥ samantriṇaḥ vatsaraṁ bhūpatiṁ cakrur yavīyāṁsaṁ bhrameḥ sutam
Por esta razón, los ministros y los ancianos de la familia pensaron que Utkala carecía de inteligencia y estaba loco. Así, su hermano menor, Vatsara, hijo de Bhrami, fue elevado al trono real.
It appears that although there was monarchy, it was not at all an autocracy. There were senior family members and ministers who could make changes and elect the proper person to the throne, although the throne could be occupied only by the royal family. In modern days also, wherever there is monarchy, sometimes the ministers and elderly members of the family select one member from the royal family to occupy the throne in preference to another.
FAQs
Because the elders of the dynasty and the ministers judged the previous heir to be dull and mad, they installed Vatsara, the younger son of Bhrami, as king.
It shows that a ruler was expected to be competent; when an heir seemed unfit, responsible elders and ministers could select another qualified person for the protection of the kingdom.
Choose leaders based on fitness and responsibility, and rely on wise counsel and accountability rather than mere entitlement or birthright.