Duties of a state as per Mahabharata: 

In Shanti Parva (Book of peace) of Mahabharata, the scope of a state is said to be quite broad and a state is regarded to be responsible for the people, starting from their materialistic safety, to proper upkeep and growth of their social, economic and moral parameters of life. The importance of distinction between the emergence of people and general concept of rise of people is useful in the context that these both express positive and negative obligations of a state.

A state has to discharge its duties towards the safety of the people from foreign attacks, preservation of life and property, general upkeep and judicial management and simultaneously, a state has to initiate multifaceted social, economical and moral activites for the development of the people of the state. For example, provision of education, medical care, business, transport management, development of forest and mines, care of the poor and down trodden, etc.

It is expected of a state that it has to protect its inmates from foreign attacks. Besides, it is also a responsibility of a state to keep check on wine – house owners, prostitutes, gambling, and other anti – social professions, as without these checks, the people get distressed. In addition, a state has to perform other welfare schemes like construction of big roads, arrangement of doctors and dispensaries, well construction, construction of safety walls, removal of weeds and trash for fear of fire, development of agricultural land, etc.

Other Works of a State: 

In Shanti Parva of Mahabharata, there is a mention of other state duties also, apart from those mentioned above. 

These additional duties are: 

1. Country’s deference system 

2. Resolution of problems of state 

3. Safety of the weak 

4. Security from foreign attacks 

5. Service to the people 

6. Arrangement of Agricultural and business system