State and Government in Ancient India c16.52

c16.52

Monarchy being the normal form of government, the department of the Royal Household may well engage our attention first. The palace and its precincts were in charge of a trusted and experienced officer called *āvasathika* in Bengal¹ and *saudhagehādhipa* by Śukra.² The ingress into and the egress from the palace and royal camp were naturally controlled very strictly by an officer known as *dvārapāla*; passports were usually necessary for this purpose which were issued by an officer known as *mudrādhipa*. Visitors and ambassadors were ushered into the royal presence by an officer known as *pratīhāra* or *mahāpratīhāra*. The king had a bodyguard of his own, the English term being almost the same as the Sanskrit word *aṅgarakshaka*;³ sometimes its variation *śirorakshaka*⁴ was also in vogue. This officer was called *aṅganigūhaka* in the Chaulukya administration.⁵ There was a comptroller of Royal Household known as *sambhārapa*; the officers in charge of the royal treasury, kitchen (*pākādhipa*), museum and menagerie⁶ must have worked under him. The management of the kitchen was a very responsible duty; the officers had to take particular precautions to see that no attempt was made to poison the king.