State and Government in Ancient India c15.36

c15.36

Let us now see what was the strength of the ministry. Manu holds that the ministry should consist of 7 or 8 members ;⁴ the latter number is prescribed by the *Mahābhārata*.⁵ The *Arthaśāstra* quotes different views on the topic, from which we learn that the Mānava, the Bārhaspatya and the Auśanasa schools were in favour of a ministry of 12, 16 and 20 respectively.⁶ The *Śukranīti* recommends a ministry of ten,⁷ but also refers to another view which was in favour of a smaller body of 7 or 8 persons ; the view was shared by the *Mānasollāsa* of Someśvara and adopted by Shivaji in 1674. The *Nītivākyāmṛita* is in favour of a smaller ministry consisting of 3, 5, or 7 members only.