Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c40.105

c40.105

§ 256. I propose to identify the description of the municipal government noticed by Megasthenes at Pāṭaliputra, with the Paura organisation of Hindu India. Strabo,¹ after giving the description of Pāṭaliputra describes its administration. The most important point to mark in that is the phrase 'the City Magistrates' which in the mouth of a Greek will signify popular officers and not officers appointed by the king. The royal officer, Governor of the City, the 'Nāgaraka', as described in the Artha-Sāstra was distinct. These 'city magistrates' had six boards of five members each who looked after