“According to the Shastras only Kshatriyas could be kings.” Do you agree with this or not? Support your answer with evidences.
According to the Shastras, only Kshatriyas could be kings. However, several important ruling lineages probably had different origins.
1. The social background of the Mauryas, who ruled over a large empire, has been hotly debated. While Later Buddhist texts suggested they were Kshatriyas, Brahmanical texts described them as being of 'low' origin.
2. The Shungas and Kanvas, the immediate successors of the Mauryas, were Brahmanas. In fact, political power was effectively open to anyone who could muster support and resources, and rarely depended on birth as a Kshatriya.
3. Satavahanas considered themselves to be Brahmanas.
Thus we can find that it was not so, it was basically anyone with talentm, support or resources could have been rulers.
