The Mauryan Polity c10.s2.t4.7

c10.s2.t4.7

As already mentioned the *Arthaśāstra* refers to the terms *mahāmātra* in the sense of a minister,² and the *mahāmātrīya*³ as the official chamber of the ministry. It is significant to note again the term *mantripariṣad*, meaning thereby the council of ministers. Suffice it to say here that this council enjoyed the right of consultation by the king before he would launch on some business affecting the state. What is interesting is that Aśoka uses the terms *mahāmātra* and *pariṣad* in a similar sense. There are two important Edicts, R. E. III and V, which bear this out. The first is an order of the council to the officials in the Accounts Department,⁴ and the second refers distinctly to the inner working of the councils.⁵ It is refreshing to note that Hultzsch agrees with this interpretation.⁶ He writes: "Jayaswal⁷ has drawn attention to the occurrence of the term *mantripariṣad* 'the council of ministers,' in the *Kauṭalīya*. This meaning fits admirably both here and in the Rock Edict VI." That the *āryaputra* or the provincial chief did not act on his own initiative, but consulted his council before he took action, is seen from the fact that even the orders of the provincial Headquarters were sent both in the name of the provincial chief and his *mahāmātras* as is evident from the phrase ‘ayaputasa mahāmātāṇaṃ cha’.¹ Though the members of the mahāmātra-pariṣad seem to have enjoyed a good deal of freedom, still they did not go unchecked. They could not abuse their rights and privileges. If differences of opinion arose among them, the matter was reported to the king at the imperial Headquarters who was the final arbiter.² Again if they should conduct themselves badly the citizens would raise the standard of revolt, which would be duly reported to the King.