The Mauryan Polity c10.s1.t10.9

c10.s1.t10.9

These rural officials were not left to themselves. The Central government appointed as many as three commissioners in every headquarters of the rural areas. They went about the country and kept watch over the revenue officials lest they should prove tyrannical or harass the people unduly with unjust taxes. These commissioners were then an effective check on the conduct of these government servants who were thus given no opportunity to misuse their powers.¹ If any comparison could be made, the *sthāniyas* and the *droṇa*- mukha officers were the viceroys and provincial governors, while those at the *kharvaṭika* and the *saṅgrahana* were district officers. The *gopas* were the members of the subordinate civil service who were in charge of the accounts.