Social Life in Ancient India: Studies in Vatsyayana's Kamasutra c7.47.2

c7.47.2

Vātsyāyana also speaks of persons that were harassed by the Mahāmātras⁵ and he speaks in similar terms of the Rājavallabha or the favourite of the king⁶ who was marked generally by violent and sinister conduct. The Mahāmātra of Vātsyāyana appears to be, as in the Arthaśāstra of Kauṭilya⁷, a designation for high government officials in general, including provincial governors, as in Aśoka’s edicts. Besides the Mahāmātra, Vātsyāyana also mentions the M a n t r i n on whose shoulders rested the heavy burden of state,¹ as a person who should never have anything to do with filthy practices.² This M a n t r i n, the pillar of the state, seems to be the Prime-minister and superior to the Mahāmātras, or he may be a member of the Mantri-pariṣad of Kauṭilya.³ Of the superior officers, Vātsyāyana also speaks of the D h a r m a s t h a s or D h a r m ā d h i k a r a ṇ a s t h a s, the dispensers of law and justice⁴ and four of the A d h y a k ṣ a s or superintendents in charge of the departments of state, beside the U t t a r ā d h y a k ṣ a or a superior officer in general.⁵ These adhyakṣas or departmental superintendents mentioned by Vātsyāyana, are only such as come in contact with women in the ordinary course of their duties and have thus opportunities, as Vātsyāyana avers, of winning their love without much risk to themselves.