The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c15.54

c15.54

As usual, the king personally conducted the administration. He transacted the business of the state even on tours, when he was accompanied by some of his ministers.² Towards his subjects he adopts a paternal attitude. Most of the inscriptions discovered record grants to Brâhmaṇas, to groups of scholars or students, or to religious and charitable institutions. So numerous were the gifts that, as the Bihâr Stone Pillar Inscription of Skandagupta indicates, a special officer Agrahârika was deputed to arrange them.³ The example of the king was followed by his relations, ministers, feudatories and even ordinary subjects. The character of the endowments may be illustrated by a few typical instances. The Bhitârî Stone Pillar Inscription of Skandagupta records the allotment of a village for the maintenance of a temple in which the king had installed an image of Śârṅgin or Viṣṇu.⁴ There are gifts dedicated to Satras, charitable alms-houses or halls.⁵ Âdityasena's mother built a religious college or monastery.⁶ The Sâñchi Stone Inscription of Candragupta's reign records the grant of a village or an area of land and a sum of money to the Ârya Saṃgha at the Buddhist Vihâra of Kâkanâdaboṭa for the purpose of feeding mendicants or maintaining lamps.⁷ The