Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c11.s34.5

c11.s34.5

The higher officials were required to go on tours of inspection (*anusaṃyāna*) generally once in five years, but once in three years in the provinces of Ujjayinī and Takṣaśilā. Among these officials were Yuktas, Rājūkas and Prādeśikas. The term *Yukta* is general, and known also to the *Arthaśāstra*; in the second Kalinga edict, Aśoka says that in all the divisions (*deśa*) of the province he will maintain officers (*ayutikas*) for the carrying out of his policy. Prādeśika may well be the *pradeṣṭṛ* of the *Arthaśāstra*; he has been taken to correspond to the District officer (Collector) of modern times and his rank may have been that of a *mahāmātra*, though of this we have no certainty. The officers going on tour were, at least some of them, specially selected for their personal qualities of moderation and gentleness, and they had other duties, particularly to supervise the judicial administration².