[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [The Mauryan Polity](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932) › c10.s2.t2.7 # The Mauryan Polity c10.s2.t2.7 The Mauryan Polity c10.s2.t2.7 - **Language:** English ### [c10.s2.t2.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.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 - [Previous: c10.s2.t2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c10.s2.t2.6) - [Next: c10.s2.t2.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c10.s2.t2.8) - [Up: c10.s2.t2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c10.s2.t2) ## Cites (1) - [Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.artha.kautilya) — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c10.s2.t2.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1932.c10.s2.t2.7) · Pramāṇa