The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c15.72

c15.72

The exigencies of endowments serve to give an idea of at least some of the chief officers under the Guptas. Numerous inscriptions mention Senāpati, Mahāsenāpati, Balādhyakṣa or Balādhikṛta,³ Mahābalādhyakṣa or Mahābalādhikṛta, who are all military officers and who perhaps represent four different grades of them. There are two other high military officers—Bhaṭāśvapati, commander of infantry and cavalry, and Kaṭuka, commander of the elephant corps. On the financial side of the military administration was the Raṇabhāṇḍāgārādhikaraṇa, chief of the treasury of the war office, who is mentioned in the Basāḍh seals. Another minister who had something to do with military policy was the Sandhivigrahika or Mahāsandhivigrahika, a sort of foreign secretary. It is not clear whether the two terms are used for the same officer or whether the addition of the adjective Mahā indicates superiority of rank. In the latter case, the Sandhivigrahika is the assistant of the Mahāsandhivigrahika. Three other variations in this designation are met with—sandhivigrahin, sandhivgrahādhikṛta, sandhivigrahādhikaraṇādhikṛta. Camūpa is another military officer, perhaps lower than those mentioned above.