Shivaji and His Times c17.s4.1

c17.s4.1

His earliest administrative Council, in the days of Dadaji Kond-dev, was composed of four officers only, viz., the Peshwa, the Majmuadar, the Dabir, and the Sabnis (Sabh. 7.) When, in 1647, Shiva became his own master, he added a Master of the Horse (Sar-i-naubat) and a second Dabir to the above four (Sabh. 8.) In 1656, after the conquest of Javli (which practically doubled his territory) the Council was further expanded by creating a *Surnis* and a *Waqnis* and two distinct commanders for the infantry and cavalry arms (Sabh. 11.) After his return from Agra he appointed (1667) a Lord Justice to try all suits in the kingdom according to the Sanskrit law-books (Sabh. 57.) By 1674 the number of ministers had risen to eight (*Ibid.* 83), which continued till his death.