State and Government in Ancient India c15.48

c15.48

To ensure despatch and secrecy, there often used to be a smaller cabinet of important ministers consisting of three or four members only. When Rāma exhorts Bharata to decide his policy after consulting three or four ministers (II. 100. 71) or Kauṭilya or Bhīshma lay down that the king should hold consultation with three or four ministers,⁷ it is clear that the smaller cabinet of the ministry is being referred to.