Public Administration in Ancient India c12.25

c12.25

¹ Sukranīti, Ch. 1. ² “And again, O King, just as there are a hundred or two of officers under the King, but only six of them are reckoned as Officers-of-State—the Commander-in-Chief, the Prime Minister, the Chief Judge, the High Treasurer, the Bearer of the Sunshade of State, and the State Sword-bearer. And why? Because of their royal prerogatives.” Questions of King Milinda (Rhys Davids), IV. 1, 36. ³ The term ‘Sabbatthaka’ (Minister in general) occurs in Questions of Milinda, IV. 8, 26; it correctly indicates the nature of the work of the Prime Minister. ⁴ This term is found in the Rājataraṅginī. ⁵ The term ‘agrāmātya’ occurs in a Ceylon inscription. ⁶ In the Mahāparinibbāna-suttanta, Vassakāra is described as ‘Magadha-mahāmatta.’ ⁷ Kautilya uses the word ‘Mantri’ in the sense of ‘Prime Minister.’ ⁸ The passage may be freely translated thus: “A King who has a learned Brāhmana as his Purohita and Protector of the State, makes alliances