Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c19.s4.3

c19.s4.3

The influence of political thinkers (*Arthachintakas*) on Indo-Scythian Polity is evident. The ablest among the princes of the time assiduously studied the science of polity (*Arthavidyā*);² and the care taken to train the occupant of the throne, the employment of officers endowed with ministerial qualifications (*Amātyaguṇa*), the classification of ministers and other high officials (*Sachivas*), abstention from oppressive imposition of *Praṇaya* (Benevolences), *Vishṭi* (forced labour) etc., and the solicitude for the welfare of the *Pauras* and *Jānapadas*, people of cities as well as country parts, clearly show that the teaching of the writers of treatises on polity (*Arthaśāstra*) was not lost upon the Scythian conquerors of India. There was no great cleavage with the past, and the references to *Mahāmātras*,¹ *Rajjukas*,² and *Samcharamtaka* or *Sañchārin*³ spies, indicate that the official machinery of the Maurya period had not ceased to function at least in Southern India.