The Mauryan Polity c10.s2.t6: The Prādeśikas

The Mauryan Polity c10.s2.t6

Language: English

The Prādeśikas

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We have now examined two institutions, thrown off to exercise, as their peculiar work, administrative and judicial functions of the provincial government, that is, the offices of the *Mahāmātras* and the Rājukas. The next body of officials was that of the Prādeśikas. The Arthaśāstra mentions a class of officers called the pradeṣṭṛs.¹ They were appointed by the Samāhartā.² They seem to have³ been primarily revenue commissioners.⁴ They had also magisterial functions to perform. It is said that a Board of three commissioners was formed, and that it was deputed to enquire after the disturbers of the peace including state officials in the locality, and to bring them to book so that the trade and industry which were the mainstay of the empire had an unhampered continuity.⁵ The term kaṇṭaka in this passage is interpreted as artisans in the T. M. commentary.⁶ But it is hardly acceptable. It is highly improbable that three ministers or three commissioners would have been appointed to look after the artisans. It is very likely that these officers resembled the justices of peace of the mediæval England who made extensive tours in the country parts and awarded punishment to men of criminal tendencies and acts.⁷ In meting out justice the commissioners were to be impartial and equitable⁸ and if not, they were liable to the same penalty.⁹ These commissioners like the judges were watched over lest they should become corrupt by accepting bribes. Those who were proved guilty were punished.¹ This shows that they were expected to discharge their functions with full responsibility.

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¹ Bk. I, ch. 12.

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² Bk. IV, ch. 9.

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³ The pay of a pradeṣṭa officer is computed to be 8,000 paṇas equal to that of the śreṇi and leaders of elephants, horses, and chariots. (Bk. V, ch. 3.)

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⁴ gopasthānikasthāneṣu pradeṣṭārāḥ kāryakāraṇam balipragraham ca kuryuḥ|| Bk. II, ch. 35.

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⁵ Bk. V, ch. 1,4 and 9. pradeṣṭārāṣṭrayastrayo vā amātyāḥ kaṇṭakaśodhanam kuryuḥ|

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⁶ See Shāma Sāstri Trans. p. 245-n.

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⁷ pradeṣṭa coramārgaṇam, Bk. IV, ch. 6.

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⁸ Bk. IV, ch. 10.

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⁹ Ibid., ch. 9.

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¹ Bk. IV, ch. 4.

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Identical with these officers are the *prādeśikas* of the Aśokan Inscriptions.² The term has had the benefit of a full and critical examination by scholars. F. W. Thomas renders it as ‘the head of the executive, revenue and judicial service.’³ Mookerjee translates it as the divisional commissioner⁴ and surmises an ascending order of rank from the mention of the *yuktas*, *rājukas* and *prādeśikas* in the Rock Edict III. Samaddar holds that their position was equal to that of a minister and that they could not have been mere ‘district’ officers.⁵ If the term is derived from *pradeśa* which means a territorial division and hence a specified area, the *prādeśikas* might be provincial officers entrusted with jurisdiction over a specified area. If the term *anusaṃyānaṃ* means ‘tour,’ then these officials toured round the country once in every five years.⁶ But if it means ‘transfer,’ they were also transferred every five years, when new commissioners took their place. The latter seems to be more probable.

Linked texts (2)

Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit
Major Rock Edict III — Prakrit