State and Government in Ancient India c16.59

c16.59

There used to be a royal physician at the king's court corresponding to the royal surgeon of modern times. He figures in the Gāhadawāla records,⁷ and is probably referred to as *ārāmādhipa* by Śukra.⁸ When astrology became popular after *c.* 600 A. D., the court used to maintain a royal astrologer also, whose advice was often taken when starting on a military expedition. This officer figures in the records of the Gāhadawālas, the Yādavas, the Chāhamānas and the Chaulukyas.⁹ Poet-laureates used to be maintained at the royal courts since very early times. Many of the famous Sanskrit poets were connected with one court or another. A large number of learned men also got some kind of preferment or other at the royal court or in the king’s administration.