Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c14.s3.104

c14.s3.104

As to the *Rājūkas*, Dr. Smith takes the word to mean a governor next below a *Kumāra*.¹ Bühler identifies the *Rājuka* of the Aśokan inscriptions with the *Rajjūka* or the *Rajjugāhaka Amachcha* (Rope-holder, Field-measurer or Surveyor) of the *Jātakas*.² Pillar Edict IV refers to the *Rājūkas* as officers "set over many hundred thousands of people," and charged with the duty of promoting the welfare of the *Jānapadas* to whom Aśoka granted independence in the award of honours and penalties. The reference to the award of penalties (*Daṇḍa*) probably indicates that the *Rājūkas* had judicial duties. In the Rock Edict III as well as in Pillar Edict IV they are associated with the *Yutas*, and in the Yerraguḍi inscriptions with the *Raṭhikas*.³ Strabo⁴ refers to a class of Magistrates (*Agronomoi*) who "have the care of the rivers, measure the land, as in Egypt, have charge also of hunters and have the power of rewarding or punishing those who merit either." The measuring of the land connects those Magistrates with the *Rajjugāhaka Amachcha* of the *Jātakas*,⁵ while the power of rewarding and punishing people connects them with the *Rājūkas* of Aśoka. It is probable, therefore, that the *Agronomoi* referred to by Strabo were identical with the *Rājūkas* and the *Rajjugāhaka Amachchas*. The *Arthaśāstra*⁶ refers to a class of officials called "*Chora Rajjukas*," but there is no reference to the *Rājjukas* proper although on p. 60 "*Rājju*" is mentioned in conjunction with "*Chora Rājju.*"