A Kashmiri King who did justice

The ' Rajtarangini ' (River/Chronicle of Kings of Kashmir), an epic Sanskrit poem by the Kashmiri poet Kalhan (12th Century) mentions how Chandrapida(711-719 AD), a King of Kashmir, upheld the Rule of Law, and protected a ‘charmakar’ ( Cobbler/Tanner ) of his kingdom against the hostility of his own officials. The King's officials had planned to build a temple of Lord Tribhuvanaswamy on a piece of land where the cobbler's hut was situated. The cobbler refused to remove his hut despite the orders of the officials. When the officials complained of the cobbler's stubbornness to the King, instead of ordering demolition of the hut, the King scolded the officials for trying to encroach on the cobbler's land. Normally, kind and good human beings are deeply pious and Chandrapida was no exception. Compensation money was offered to the cobbler, but he declined. The King realized his conceit and had a second thought: ‘if Kings take away lands of subjects, who would administer justice then'? For a while, he thought that it was a sin to take someone's land by force. Finally, he decided to meet and persuade the tanner. 

Chandrapida went to his house and the tanner then exclaimed ' O Great King, just as Yudhisthira was tested by virtues, so was I testing you. You are a jewel among Kings. Take away my land for erection of temple’. The cobbler further added with folded hands: " Yielding to another, however low, adhering to the principles of Rajdharma, (King’s Duty) is the appropriate course for a King. I wish you well. May you live long, upholding the supremacy and rule of the law.” 

Thus, under a just King the supremacy of the law was upheld, and the safety and honor of the weak (the cobbler) were protected.