Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c12.s4.17

c12.s4.17

The victories of Bimbisāra's reign were probably due in large measure to the vigour and efficiency of his administration. He exercised a rigid control over his High Officers,¹ dismissing those who advised him badly and rewarding those whose advice he approved of. The result of the 'purge' was the emergence of the type of official represented by Vassakāra and Sunītha. The High Officers (*Rājabhaṭa*) were divided into several classes, *viz.*, (1) *Sabbatthaka* (the officer in charge of general affairs), (2) *Senā-nāyaka Mahāmattas* (generals), and (3) *Vohārika Mahāmattas* (judges).² The *Vinaya* texts afford us a glimpse of the activities of these *Mahāmātras*, and the rough and ready justice meted out to criminals. Thus we have reference not only to imprisonment in jails (*kārā*), but also to punishment by scourging (*kaśā*), branding, beheading, tearing out the tongue, breaking ribs, *etc.* There seems to have been a fourth class of *mahāmātras* who were responsible like the village syndic and headmen (*grāmabhojaka* or *grāmakuṭa*) for the levy of the tithe on produce.³