India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c12.s1.30

c12.s1.30

*OFFICERS TO GREET THE KING.*—These were: (1) *Svāgatika*, the officer who pronounced welcome to the king at his appearance (*Svāgatādīnāṁ cha*, VII.3.7; *svāgatam ityāha*); (2) *Sauvastika* (*svastītyāha*, *Dvārādi gaṇa*, the officer who recites *svasti-vāchana* to the king). To this Kātyāyana adds three more: (3) *Saukha-śāyanika*, the person who enquires of the king if he had slept well (*sukhaśayanam prichchhati*). This is the same as Pāṇini’s *Saukha-śāyyika* (*sukhaśayyayā jīvati*, *Vetanādi gaṇa*, IV.4.12). In the *Lohakumbhī Jātaka* we find mention of Brāhmaṇas coming at dawn to enquire about the health of the king of Kosala (*aruṇāgamanavelāyā Brāhmaṇā āgantvā rājānam sukhasayitam puchchhimsu*, III.43). (4) *Saukha-rātrika*, the officer who asks whether the king spent a comfortable night. (5) *Sausnātika*, the officer who greets the king after his toilet (*susnātam prichchhati*). The *sausnātika* in relation to the king is referred to by Kālidāsa (*Raghuvaṁśa*, VI.61).