History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.405.4

v4.c62.405.4

36) it appears that the roads of the capital were watered. In the Harṣacarita (III) Bāṇa gives a graphic description of Sthāṇvīśvara (modern Thanesar). For the local administration of the capital, vide the duties of the nāgaraka described above (p. 149) from Kautilya (II. 36). From the Paharpur plates (dated Gupta saṁvat 159 i. e. 478–9 A. D.) it appears that a nagara-śreṣṭhin (the chief of the bankers and traders of the capital) was nominated (probably by the king). Vide E. I. vol. 20 p. 59 at p. 61. There was probably a board of the elders of the city (pauramukhyas or pauravṛddhas as in Kauṭilya) appointed to help the Governor of the capital (*nāgaraka*) in administration. In the Damodarpur copper plates also a nagaraśreṣṭhin is mentioned along with others who were approached for consenting to a purchase of land (E. I. vol. XV at pp. 130, 133, dated Gupta saṁvat 129). Megasthenes (in McCrindle's 'Ancient India', Fragment XXXIV p. 187) describes the city of Palibothra (Pāṭaliputra) and its administration. He says that six committees of five each looked to the affairs of the city and were respectively in charge of (1) industrial arts, (2) entertainment and care of foreigners, (3) inquiries about births and deaths, (4) trade and commerce, weights and measures, (5) manufactured articles, (6) collection of the 10th of the prices of articles sold. Fragments XXV–XXVI (pp.