Duties of a king as in Arthashastra

We all know that Arthashastra is the world treatise on Political science. It clearly defines the duties of the king.

Duties of the King

If the king is energetic, his subjects will be equally energetic. If he is slack (and lazy in performing his duties), the subjects will also be lax and thereby eat into his wealth. Besides, a lazy king will easily fall into the hands of enemies. Hence the maharaj should himself always be energetic. He shall divide the day and the night, each into eight periods of one and half hours, and perform his duties as follows:


First 1 1/2 hrs. after sunrise Receive reports on defence, revenue, expenditure
Second 1 1/2 hrs. after sunrise Public audiences, to hear petitions of city & country people
Third 1 1/2 hrs. after sunrise & Receive revenues & tributes; appoint ministers and other high officials & allot tasks Last 1 1/2 hrs. before noon to them
First 1 1/2 hrs. after noon Write letters & dispatches, confer with councillors, receive secret information from spies
Second 1 1/2 hrs. after noon Personal: recreation, time for contemplation
Third 1 1/2 hrs. after noon & Inspect & review forces; Consult with Chief of Defence
Last 1 1/2 hrs. before sunset
First 1 1/2 hrs. after sunset Interview with secret agents
Second 1 1/2 hrs. after sunset Personal: bath, meals, study
Third & Fourth 1 1/2 hrs. after sunset Retire to the bed chamber to the sound of music, sleep
& First 1 1/2 hrs. after midnight
Second 1 1/2 hrs. after midnight After waking to the sound of music, meditate on political matters & on work to be done
Third 1 1/2 hrs. after midnight Consult with councilors, send out spies
Last 1 1/2 hrs. before sunrise Religious, household & personal duties, meetings with his teacher, adviser on rituals, purohitas, personal physician, chief cooks & astrologer treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy

The scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar.
Confucius