State and Government in Ancient India c15.82

c15.82

The Foreign Minister is the next important member of the ministry. He is designated as mantrin by Śukra, but the inscriptions give him the more significant title of *mahāsandhivigrahika*, 'the highest officer in charge of peace and war'. This minister was known as Sumanta (Sumantrin) under Shivaji. India was usually studded with a large number of states, some independent ansd some feudatories. Most of them used to entertain the secret hope to attain the imperial status one day. The work of the Foreign Minister was therefore both heavy and exacting. It was divided state-wise; even the small Śilāhāra kingdom of Chittarājadeva (*c.* 1025 A. D.) had one chief Foreign Minister and another Foreign Minister incharge of Karnatak affairs.¹ If such a small kingdom required two officials at the foreign office, both of the status of a minister, one can well conclude that the ministries of big kingdoms like those of the Mauryas, the Guptas, the Rāshtrakūtas and the Gurjara-Pratīhāras must have had several foreign ministers or secretaries working under the directions of a Chief Foreign Minister.