The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c15.139.3

c15.139.3

All protection was to be extended to its holders, no hindrance of any kind was to be offered to them.⁵ In the Ganeśgaḍ Plates of Dhruvasena I, of the year 526-27 A.D., from Bhâvanagara state, two brothers are big feudatories,—Mahârâja and Mahâsâmanta—and a third one holds the post of Senâpati which he passes on to his son. The feudal dominion has the usual administrative machinery. Drângikas are the town-officers with whom are associated Mahattaras, elders. It appears that, as in the village, the elders were informally consulted on administrative matters in towns. Sthânâdhikaraṇikas are the police-officers in charge of Sthânas (police stations), from which the medieval and modern term thânâ is derived. The nomenclature is interesting. In this inscription the fiscal officers and arrangements are the same as in the foregoing ones.¹ Two other grants of Dhruvasena I from Pâlitânâ introduce big feudatories, Mahâsâmanta Mahârâjas.² In the Pâlitânâ Plates of Siṃhâditya, of the year 574 A.D., also appears a line of hereditary Sâmanta Mahârâjas—big feudatories. Among those to whom the Śâsana is addressed are Râjasthânîyas, Drângikas, Mahattaras, riders on elephants and horses who seem to form part of the army.³ The Pâlitânâ Plates of Dharasena II of the year 571 A.D. mention a few other officers but none which has not been already noticed.⁴ These grants prove that Kâṭhiâwâḍ had the same system of administration as the north. Gujarât was quite in line.