[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Chandragupta Maurya and His Times](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.mookerji-1943) › c19.3 # Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c19.3 Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c19.3 - **Language:** English ### [c19.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.mookerji-1943.c19.3) | \*Asoka's Edicts.\* | \*Kauṭilya's Arthaśāstra.\* | | 1. \*Mahāmātra\*, a technical term for an officer of high rank occuring in many of the Edicts. They mention the \*Mahāmātra\* as being (a) in charge of cities like Isila, Samāpā \[KRE. II\] or Kosambi \[MPE\]; (b) associated with the princely Viceroys, as at Tosalī \[KRE. II\], or at Suvarṇagiri \[MRE. I, Brahm.\]; (c) placed in charge of over thousands of lives \[KRE. II\]; | 1. In the \*Arthaśāstra\*, the \*Mahāmātra\* also figures as a minister \[I. 10, 12, 13\] and as the chief executive officer of a city under the title \*Nāgarika-Mahāmātra\* \[IV. 5\]=\*Mahāmātā-nagalaka\* of KRE, I, Jaugada, while his status and influence will be evident from the fact that the seditious \*Mahāmātra\* is a cause of much concern to the king who has to send him out of the way \[V. 1\]. | - [Previous: c19.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.mookerji-1943.c19.2) - [Next: c19.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.mookerji-1943.c19.4) - [Up: c19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.mookerji-1943.c19) ## Linked texts (3) - [Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.artha.kautilya.1.10) — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit - [Minor Rock Edicts](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.epigraphy.asoka.mre) - [Minor Pillar Edicts](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.epigraphy.asoka.mpe) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.mookerji-1943.c19.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.mookerji-1943.c19.3) · Pramāṇa