Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c9.274

c9.274

**Department of Embassies** [I. 16]. The Government maintained a Department of Embassies in charge of its foreign relations. Ambassadors called Dūtas were recruited from Ministers (*Amātyas*) of full qualifications and were of different grades: (1) *Nisṛishṭārtha*, Plenipotentiary (2) *Parimitārtha*, Envoy charged with limited mission and (3) *Śāsana-hara*, instructed emissary, the bearer of Royal decrees.