The Mauryan Polity c10.s2.t2.7

c10.s2.t2.7

As Kauṭalya mentions a number of *adhyakṣas* in charge of the respective departments of the state Aśoka speaks of a number of superintendents in charge of different departments. We shall mention here such officers from the *Arthaśāstra* as correspond to those under the *mahāmātra* officials of the Edicts. *Nāgaraka* who is the superintendent of the town¹ corresponds to *mahāmātra-nāgaraka*. The *paura-vyāvahārika*² corresponds to the *nagala-viyohālaka*.³ These latter are found as administrators of justice for their cities, Tośāli and Samāpa.⁴ Perhaps the *gaṇikādhyakṣa*⁵ or the superintendent of courtesans can be compared with *Ithijhakha-mahāmāta*⁶ or *strīadhyakṣamahāmātras*.⁷ Probably these officials attended to the needs and comforts of the women members of the royal family. What their functions exactly were is not clear. A comparison can again be made between the *dharmā-vasa-thinah* of the *Arthaśāstra*¹ and the *dharma-mahāmā-tras* of Aśoka. In the former they were managers of religious and charitable institutions, who administered to the wants of the *śrotriyas* and ascetics, and who kept in check the *pāṣaṇḍis* and other heretical sects. They interested themselves in the promotion of morality and religion.²