Public Administration in Ancient India c12.41

c12.41

The Ministers possessed great powers in the State even in normal times; but during the minority of a King or when the King happened to be a weak man, their powers were immense. When the throne fell vacant, they played the role of King-makers.⁵ Chānakya, for instance, placed Chandragupta on the throne of Magadha.⁶ From the poet-historian Bāna as well as from Hiuen Tsiang we know how a successor was appointed to Rājyavardhana, King of Kanauj. We are told that Bhandi, the Prime Minister, called a meeting of the Ministers and said to them: "The destiny of the nation is to be fixed to-day . . . Because he (Harsha) is attached to his family, the people will trust in him. I propose that he assume the royal authority. Let each one give his opinion on the matter, whatever he thinks." Then the chief Ministers exhorted Harsha to take authority, saying: "The opinion of the people as shown in their songs, proves their real submission to your qualities. Reign, then, with glory over the lands."¹ From the Ceylon inscriptions we learn that the Ministers elected Līlāvatī as Queen of Ceylon, and afterwards deposed her. In the temporary absence of a King, the Ministers ruled the country—as a rule, very wisely and well.²