A large sandstone stele discovered near the Bakong temple in Cambodia has revealed a 9th-century text known as the 'Siddhanta-Sagara'. Written in a mixture of Sanskrit and Old Khmer, the inscription outlines a comprehensive Philosophy of Sovereignty that emphasizes the king's role as a 'Dharmic Protector' whose primary duty is the maintenance of social and cosmic equilibrium. The text argues that a ruler's power is derived not from force, but from their adherence to the principles of truth and selfless service.
Scholars believe this discovery highlights the profound philosophical exchange between the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia during the medieval period. The 'Siddhanta-Sagara' provides a unique synthesis of Vedic political ethics and local Khmer governance traditions, offering a template for a 'sacred statecraft' that prioritized the welfare of the collective over the ambitions of the individual.