Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c43.81

c43.81

§ 301. The official designations of the Ministers for different portfolios varied from time to time. The Mānava Dharma-Śāstra uses the word *Sachiva*, lit., 'helper,' 'colleague,' as a general term for Ministers¹ as against the *Amātya* (*lit.*, 'those remaining together') of the Artha-Śāstra. In the Rāmāyaṇa *Amātya* occurs in the general sense, while *Sachivas* are distinguished from the *Mantrins*.²