History of the Pallavas of Kanchi c8.21

c8.21

Śivaskandavarman.—The Mayidavolu grant was issued while this sovereign was yet the heir-apparent. From the Hirahadagalli grant dated in the 8th year of his reign we learn that he had the title of Dharmamahārāja. This was evidently assumed after extensive conquests. We do not know with any definiteness what were the regions which he brought under the sway of Pallava rule. But from the fact that this record says that Śivaskandavarman was a performer of the *Aśvamedha*, *Vājapeya* and *Agniṣṭoma* we may reasonably infer that his suzerainty must have been recognized by several kings. Otherwise the performance of *Aśvamedha* would lose any significance attaching to it unless it is regarded as a false boast. It is not apparent which was the southernmost limit of the Tamil part of his kingdom, but it is presumable that his sway extended as far as the South Pennar while in the north his kingdom included the Telugu districts between the Godavari and Krishna. His capital was Kāñchīpuram while Amarāvati in the north appears to have continued as a flourishing seat of the Buddhists and their monasteries. The records of Śivaskandavarman give us a glimpse into the Asokan nature of the organization of government during this period. The kingdom was divided into divisions known as Vishaya, Raṭṭha and Grāma. The officers entrusted to rule these areas were known as Vishayikas, Raṭṭhika (Rāṣṭrikas), and Dēsādikata (Dēsādhikṛtas). These officers were chiefly recruited from the members of the royal family and the commanders of armies. The persons who were consulted by the king on administrative matters were the prime-minister and the private secretary (Amātya and the Rahasyātikata). It is significant that the names of the various heads of departments are all in Prakrit. It is probable that the Pallava kings continued the administrative system of Asoka on the lines of the Dharmaśāstras and Arthaśāstras. The taxes collected by these kings from their subjects are in accordance with the Sanskrit Dharmaśāstra rules. The taxes and other dues that these kings were entitled to are known as the eighteen kinds of taxes (Aṭṭarasajāti-Parihāra). Some of these included the taking of milk and curd from the subjects, the supply of cattle to the officers touring in the villages on royal duty, the supplying of lodging facilities and utensils, fire-wood, vegetables, flowers, menial servants, etc. A complete list of these is furnished in the later charters enumerating the exemptions secured by certain donees to whom free gifts of land were made.¹ During this period the manufacture of salt and jaggery were royal monopolies, and special license had to be obtained for private manufacture.