Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c10.32

c10.32

**Administration: Revenue Officers.** The Revenue Department comprised three grades of officials, viz., (1) *Samāhartā*, Collector-general, the Head of the Department, (2) *Sthānika* and (3) *Gopa*. The Province (*Janapada*) was split up into four Circles or Divisions, each under a *Sthānika*. Each such Circle was subdivided into groups or unions of 5 villages and 10 villages which were placed in charge of officers called *Gopas*. In addition to *Gopa* and *Sthānika*, the rural staff working in a village comprised the following officers: (1) *Adhyaksha*, like the officer in charge of gold and jewellery works (*suvarṇādhyaksha*); (2) *Saṁkhyāyaka*, the village accountant; (3) *Anīkastha*, trainer of elephants (caught in the adjoining elephant-forests); (4) *Chikitsaka*, the village *Vaidya* or physician; (5) *Aśvadamaka*, trainer of horses; (6) *Jaṅghākarika* (*Jāṅghika*); travelling agents (*dūradeśagatāgatajīvī*) and others [II. 1].