History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.248.6

v4.c62.248.6

The place for consultation should be so secluded that the conversation going on inside will not be heard outside and that even birds cannot see it, for it is narrated that secret consultations were divulged by parrots, *mainas*, dogs and other lower animals'.¹³⁸ The Harṣacarita VI states that Nāgasena of the Nāga dynasty met destruction in Padmāvatī because his secret policy was divulged by a *mainā*, Śrutavarman lost his kingdom in Śrāvastī as his secret was disclosed by a parrot, and king Suvarṇacūḍa met his death in Mṛttikāvatī by babbling in a dream about his policy. Vide also Manu VII. 147-150, Yāj. I. 344, Kām. XI. 53, 65-66, Agnipurāṇa 225. 19, Mānasollāsa II. 9, verses 700-705 p. 92. Kauṭ. (I. 15) has a verse 'no outsider should know the king's secret policy which he desires to carry out. Only those who are to carry it out should know it only when it is begun or accomplished'. Vide for a similar rule Manu VII. 105 (=Śānti. 140. 24 which is also the last but one verse in Kauṭ. I. 15).¹³⁹ The king presided in the council, but if he was not present the chief minister presided (Manu VII. 141). In the Mālavikāgnimitra (V) the king's decision to make a *dvairājya* is conveyed to the council of ministers and then the amātya (who here means the chief minister or President of the council) informs the king that the council agreed with the king, whereupon the king asks the council to depute the commander-in-chief Vīrasena to carry out the proposal. Kauṭ. further says (I.