The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c10.77

c10.77

Besides the Purohita, the king had a number of ministers, amaccas. They seem to form a class by themselves and to regard themselves as distinct from Kṣatriyas and Brâhmaṇas and all others. “I come of amaccakula (a family of ministers),” says one (II, 98, 125). Failing to interpret a dream of the king once, the ministers say, ‘The Brâhmaṇas know it, O great king” (IV, 335 ; see also I, 260 ; III, 376 ; IV, 408 ; IV, 462 et seq.), thus implying that they themselves did not belong to the sacerdotal caste. Occasionally, however, Brâhmaṇa ministers are met with (III, 342). Ministers should be versed in all sciences (II, 30, 74). As a rule they are respected by the king but there are occasional cases of arbitrary treatment (III, 239). The offices are sometimes hereditary (I, 248). On the death of a king the realm sometimes falls to their charge. During the occasional absence or incapacity of a king too the ministers sometimes took charge of the state (IV, 370, 407, 438).