Hindu Administrative Institutions c6.s5.2

c6.s5.2

¹ *Mbh.*, *Ādi*, 217, st. 5 ; *Śānti Parvan*, ch. lvi. 5 ; ch. lxviii. 7. Prakṛti is a technical term in Hindu political literature used in different senses, the ministry, the subjects, the various sovereigns in war, or the constituent elements of a state. Kālidāsa uses it in the first sense, *Raghu.*, chap. xxii. 12). Here the celebrated commentator Mallinātha quotes Viśvā for that interpretation ‘प्रकृतिः सहजे योनौ अमात्ये परमात्मनि’ इति विश्वः । Śukra uses it in this sense in several places. Kālidāsa again uses the same term in the second sense, namely, subjects (*Raghu.*, viii. 18). In the third sense of sovereigns to be considered in time of war, Manu uses the term एताः प्रकृतयो मूलं मण्डलस्य समासतः । (vii. 156.) In this sense it is largely used. Among these seven again, the minister, the territory, fortresses, treasury and justice are called द्रव्यप्रकृतयः, the very substratum of the state. *Svāmi* is the Lord of these five *dravyaprakṛtis*. *Svāmi* may be king or king's regent. The ministry are the councillors whose