Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c8.s3.t1.22

c8.s3.t1.22

**Ambassadors, Secretaries and Heads of Departments.** *Amātyas* were also eligible for appointment as Ministers Plenipotentiary (*nisṛishṭārthaḥ*). An *Amātya* not fully qualified to be Ambassador was employed on special missions (*parimitārthaḥ*) or as bearer of royal writs (*śāsanaharaḥ*) [I. 16]. *Amātyas* were also appointed as *Lekhakas* or the king's Secretaries in charge of his correspondence [II. 10], and also as *Adhyakshas* or Heads of Departments [II. 9].