Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c11.144

c11.144

In civil government Chandragupta showed an aptitude which placed him far above the ordinary warrior-king. The selection of councillors from men respected on account of their high character and wisdom, an equitable system of judicial administration, efficient management of municipal affairs, development of roads and irrigation works, concessions to husbandmen and artisans, encouragement of passenger traffic and commerce, and perhaps also the suppression of piracy, by a board of admiralty, limitation of slavery, and many other measures to promote the prosperity and civilization of the people, do not support the stricture of Justin that he "changed the name of freedom to that of bondage" and oppressed his countrymen. The judgment of the Latin historian may have been based on the strict discipline that he enforced, and the severity of the penal code which permitted mutilation. We shall not deal in detail with these and other matters relating to Maurya polity as they will receive attention in a later chapter. We shall content ourselves with a brief notice of the king and his court.