Hindu Administrative Institutions c8.s3.16

c8.s3.16

The Pariṣad of the *Jātakas* is the same as the Pariṣad of the *Arthaśāstra* literature. The term also appears in the rock-cut inscriptions of Aśoka.⁴ Further the Vedic term *Rājakartāraḥ* continued in the same meaning both in the Pāli canon and in the epics. In the *Rāmāyaṇa*¹ on the arrival of Bharata from his uncle's house the *Rājakartāraḥ* presented themselves before him to crown him. It is not unreasonable to assume that these functionaries were the chief ministers of the state and had a place in the *mantri-pariṣad*. The law-givers such as Manu, Yājñavalkya and Kātyāyana assign a fitting place to this assembly which the king was bound to consult before he could enter upon any undertaking, or give his verdict on a suit.² Even in matters of urgent public importance the king could not and must not act on his own initiative. He must summon all his councillors and decide on the expert advice of his best men.³