Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c7.43

c7.43

We see here how closely Kauṭilya is confirmed by the evidence of the Greek eye-witness. Both point out how the king was always accessible to the public and how the greater part of his work concerned disposal of suits. What Megasthenes calls "court" Kauṭilya calls *Upasthāna* and *Agnyāgāra*. Where Megasthenes mentions the administration of justice by the king or "his judging causes", Kauṭilya describes the king's administrative work in more general terms including disposal of petitions from the public. It is also apparent from Kauṭilya's time-table that the "judging of causes" might easily encroach upon the time fixed for the king's bath and meals, as the Greek writers state. For it will be seen that the king disposes of public business at the *Upasthāna* from 6 to 9 A.M., after which comes the time fixed for his bath. It is also to be noted that the king in Kauṭilya's scheme has another spell of administrative work for three hours after meals from 12 noon and after an interval of rest he has further hard work to go through with the Military and Intelligence Departments from 3 to 7-30 P.M. Thus Greek evidence fully corroborates that of Kauṭilya on the king's strenuous daily work.