State and Government in Ancient India c22.s4.t6: Superior Services
State and Government in Ancient India c22.s4.t6
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Superior Services
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The Mauryan administration with its so varied and multifarious activities must have required a big staff of civil servants. How was it recruited? Diodorus, Strabo and Arrian agree with one another in stating that the administrative service was manned by councillors of state, who deliberated on public affairs. We are told that it was the smallest class looking to the numbers but the most respected one on account of the high character and wisdom of its members; from their ranks were the Advisors of the king taken, as also treasurers of the State and the arbiters who settled disputes. Arrian tells us that on account of their superior wisdom and justice, they enjoyed the privilege of choosing governors, chiefs of provinces, deputy-governors, superintendents of treasury, generals of the army, admirals of the navy, controllers and commissioners, who superintended agriculture (*India*, XI—12).
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These councillors of the Greek historians were not members of any caste but corresponded to the class of the Amātyas of the *Arthaśāstra*, members of which were to be of noble extraction and high training, mature judgment and keen intellect, quick decision and remarkable energy, sterling integrity and unquestioned loyalty (I 5). The *Arthaśāstra* informs us that Mantrins or ministers were selected from among them,¹ as also all the members of the Adhyaksha class,² and the higher officers in the secretariat who drafted important documents.³ The judicial officers in the moffiusil courts were also recruited from the Amātya class.⁴ In one place Kauṭilya avers that *amātyavyasana* is a very serious one, because all important government activities proceed from them, e.g. successful carrying out of projects, protection against internal and external enemies, precautions against calamities, colonisation, recruiting of the army and collection of the revenue.⁵ It is thus clear that the Amātyas of Kauṭilya were discharging most of the functions of the councillors of the Greek historians ; their position was similar to that of the I. C. S. or I. A. S. officers who fill posts in most of the departments of Indian Government.
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¹ *A. S*, I. 5
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² अमात्यसंपदोपेता सर्वाध्यक्षाः शक्तितः कर्मसु नियोज्याः । II. 9
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³ तस्मादमात्यसंपदोपेतो . . . . लेखकः स्यात् । II. 10
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⁴ धर्मस्थास्त्रयस्त्रयोऽमात्याः........व्यवहारिकानर्थान्कुर्युः । III. 1
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⁵ अमात्यमूलाः सर्वारंभाः । जनपदस्य सिद्धयः...व्यसनप्रतीकारः शन्यनिवेशोपचयो दण्डकरानुग्रहश्चः । VIII. 1
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It appears that in Aśoka’s time the senior Amātyas were called Mahāmātras, which term seems to be but a variation of Mahāmātyas. In the Aśokan administration Mahāmātras were members of the central⁶ as well as provincial cabinets⁷ heads of the district administration¹ and judges of the city court.² When appointed to promote religious harmony, piety and charities they were called Dharmamahāmātras, when charged with the work of frontier administration, they were called Antamahāmātras,³ and when entrusted with the work of promoting the welfare of women, granting them relief when destitute or in child bed, they were called Strīadhyaksha-mahāmātras.⁴ This last term would indicate that Adhyaksha and Mahāmātras were officers of the same cadre.
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⁶ Rock edict, VI.
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⁷ Separate Kalinga edict No. 2
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¹ Brahmagiri edict.
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² Separate Kalinga Edict No. 1
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³ Pillar edict I.
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⁴ Rock edict XII.
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It is only in the case of the Mauryan administration that we have definite information about the salaries of officers. The *Arthaśāstra* V. 3 supplies us interesting information upon the point. The Prime Minister, the Chief priest, the Commander-in-chief and the Crown-Prince each received 4,000 Paṇas a month. The same allowance was given to the Crowned Queen, the Dowager Queen, the preceptor and the sacrificial priest. The chamberlain Dauvārika`, the overseer over the harem, the revenue minister (Samāhartā) and the treasurer (*sannidhātā*) each received 2,000 Paṇas a month. Ordinary members of the ministry and superintendents of departments recieved 1,000 Paṇas a month. The army commandant (Nāyaka) and the warden of the marches received the same amount. Officers in charge of elephants, chariots and cavalry received 666⅔ Paṇas a month. The foot soldier received 41⅔ Paṇas a month.
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There is some difference of opinion as to whether the Paṇas were the silver or copper coins. Most probably they were copper Paṇas. In that case the salary of the Prime-minister of 4,000 Paṇas in copper would be equal to 250 Paṇas in silver. Its purchasing power would be equal to that of Rs. 600. If we assume the Paṇas to be silver coins, then the equivalent of the salary of Prime Minister would be about Rs. 9,600.
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The picture of the Mauryan administration as given above refers to the periods of all the great Mauryan emperors.
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It may not be out of place to draw attention here to the innovations introduced by Aśoka. He popularised the paternal theory of the Government and regarded his subjects as his children and officers as midwives. The king owes a debt to his subjects which he can pay off only by securing their moral and material welfare. His deep faith in non--violence made him adumbrate the theory of the renunciation of violence and war. It is interesting to note that even Jain kings like Mahāpadma Nanda had not tabooed war. Buddha had tried to stop it with varying success, but had not preached its formal abandonment in his sermons. Aśoka believed in the great importance of constant exertions both by the king and his officers and particularly exhorted the latter to undertake tours of inspection at fixed intervals of three or five years. This was probably to counteract the possible evil effects of the principle of decentralisation, which he had decided to follow when it was settled that the Rajjukas should be invested with greater powers in judicial matters. It is interesting to note that the principle of Ahimsā, which induced the emperor to abjure war, did not make him champion the cause of the abolition of the capital punishment. The only innovation he introduced was to give to the condemned criminal a respite of three days, which could be utilised for securing his spiritual welfare in the next world by making it possible for gifts being made on his behalf by his friends or relatives.
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In order to carry out the policy of moral regeneration of his subjects he created a new class of officials, known as Dharmamahāmātras, who among other things were to preach Dharma during their tours and direct charity into proper channels. Moral welfare of the subjects alone did not satisfy Aśoka. He took active steps to build roads and rest houses, to dig wells and to organise hospitals. He regarded the animal world also as falling within the scope of royal duties and responsibilities. He therefore built veterinary hospitals also to relieve the sufferings of the animal world. He was a realist and therefore did not stop completely the slaughter of animals for food; but he prohibited it on certain days of the months, which were regarded as holy by the Hindus and the Buddhists.
Cites (2)
- Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit
- Ἰνδική — Λούκιος Φλάουιος Ἀρριανός, Ancient Greek