Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c43.93

c43.93

The Mānava styles the *Minister of Diplomacy* as *Dūta*,⁴ who had jurisdiction with regard to *peace and war* relations with foreign powers and "who broke up alliances." The Rāmāyaṇa (II. 100.35) knows him by that title and so does the Śukra-Nīti. But subsequently he is called *Sāndhi-vigrahika*, in inscriptions of the Gupta period, in Bṛihaspati's law and later. It is curious that this Minister is not found in the list of the Artha-Śāstra. Probably the Mantrin combined that office in himself. The office was very important in Maurya days.