State and Government in Ancient India c15.173

c15.173

Personal factors counted for a good deal in dertermining the position and powers of ministers. Our constitutional writers point out that when kings were strong and powerful, they were the centres of power and the administration was known as 'king-centred' (*rājāyatta-tantra*); when they were weak and incapable, ministers were the virtual rulers and then the administration was known as ministry-controlled (*sachivāyatta-tantra*). In normal times, however, power was shared by both and the administration was known as *ubhyāyatta*,⁶ dependent equally both on the king and the ministry.