Pre-Buddhist India: A Political, Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey of Ancient India Based Mainly on the Jataka Stories c4.t5.29

c4.t5.29

Whereas, on the one hand, the courtiers seem to be afraid of the king and do not dare speak ill of him,² there are instances, on the other hand, which represent them as alert and watchful over the king lest he may grow slothful, and as ready to rouse him to activity by timely warnings.³ The ministers were completely at the mercy of the king. If he found them inefficient, or guilty of any wrong, they were dismissed at once.⁴ Did we not hear of such dismissed ministers joining the services of neighbouring kingdoms and planning destruction of their former masters? In spite of their getting equitable salaries,⁵ they are wont to fetch bribes.⁵ Some of the officers seem to have been so privileged as to wait upon the king without any ceremony (*vinā patihāreṇa upaṭṭhanam anujāni*).⁷ Needless to state, that jealousies and unhealthy rivalries among the officers of the Court were there.⁸ Often, and specially on the accession of the king, the ministers were inspected and their transfers or dismissals, as it was felt necessary, were carried out.⁹ Then, as now, the king received valuable gifts and presents from his officers. To King Kandari of Benares, his ministers daily brought a thousand boxes of perfume.¹⁰ An ascetic, while being received by a king, thus thinks in his mind: "Verily the king's court is full of hatred and abounds in enemies".¹¹ This remark is substantiated by the treacherous acts of the five ministers who do not see twice in carrying out their hedious plans against the poor ascetic who had superseded them in the Court. Finally they are found out and punished. The king "stripped them of all their property and, disgracing them in various ways, by fastening their hair into five locks, by putting them into fetters and chains, and by sprinkling cowdung over them, he drove them out of his kingdom."¹² Such a state of affairs does not seem to be impossible or even improbable, looking to the tendencies of the time.