New History of the Marathas v3.c37.65

v3.c37.65

But with the accession of Narayanrao (November 1772) the State became headless. True, henceforth the Peshwa’s seat was never vacant, but the Peshwa was a minor or a fugitive from his capital and country, unable to hold his own in an endless civil war. The guiding power in the administration inevitably passed on to a minister or a board of ministers. But no minister, however dictatorial, can exactly fill the place of a lawful master. For one thing, a minister is a servant, he merely exercises his master’s authority by delegation, like sunshine reflected from a mirror. And a minister can be turned out by that master any moment, whereas the ruler holds his sceptre for life.