The Mauryan Polity c13.s12.115

c13.s12.115

In speaking of the functions of the overseers Megasthenes definitely states that these overseers must report to the king, or if there is no king, to the magistrates. Thus the idea is clear that Megasthenes has found two forms of government prevailing at the same time—monarchical and republican.⁴ That these references are to forest tribes outside the pale of the state is a statement far-fetched and inconclusive in the face of such significant statements.