State and Government in Ancient India c17.s2.1

c17.s2.1

The next administrative unit roughly corresponded to the size of a Commissioner's Division consisting of three or four districts. It was called a *bhukti* under the Guptas and Pratīhāras, *rāshtra* under the Rāshtrakūṭas and *maṇḍala* under the Cholas and Chāulukyas. Sometimes the term *deśa* also was loosely used to denote it. *Rajjukas*, who ruled over several hundred thousands of persons in the Mauryan administration, might have corresponded to the modern Divisional Commissioners, but there is some evidence to show that they might have been known as *Prādeśikas*.