Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c7.116

c7.116

**Royal Decrees.** The king had to perform his administrative work by means of his decrees which Kauṭilya calls *Śāsanas* [II, 10]. The king was to appoint a qualified writer called *Lekhaka* who will listen to the king's order, and comprehending it fully, will reduce it to writing. The king's writs are issued to his Viceroys (*Īśvaras*) or to other officials. Therefore, the writer must be one of high qualifications such as those of an *Amātya* or Minister, with a knowledge of different customs, good hand-writing, quick at composition, and able to decipher writing.