Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c43.86

c43.86

The Mānava calls the Prime Minister simply *Amātya*, that is, he was *the* Amātya. In him was vested the administration or daṇḍa.⁴ He, as especially required by the Mānava (VII. 58; XII. 100.), was to be a Brahmin. In earlier times, in the Pāli Canon, the Prime Minister, *e.g.*, of **Ajātaśatru**, is styled **Agra-Mahāmātra** 'the **Foremost Minister**.' In the Divyāvadāna, the Chief Minister of Aśoka [Rādhagupta] is called the *Amātya*. He is evidently the *Mantrin* in the **Śukra-nīti**. In the Gupta period he is probably called the **Mahā-daṇḍa-nāyaka**. (§ 322).