State and Government in Ancient India c16.41

c16.41

We now proceed to consider the different departments, their officers and their functions. The departments were presided over by heads, who were called *adhyakshas* in the Mauryan age and *karmasachivas* in the Śaka administration. Curiously enough Smṛitis refer to them in a very general and vague way;⁵ it is the *Arthaśāstra*, which supplies detailed information, which is very largely confirmed by inscriptions.