The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c15.81

c15.81

The king's territory was divided into a number of Bhuktis or provinces, a Bhukti into Viṣayas or districts, a Viṣaya into Grāmas or villages. The governor of a Bhukti bears various designations in the epigrahic records—Bhogika, Bhogapati, Goptṛ, Uparika-mahārāja, Rājasthānīya²—which convey some idea of his duties. Bhukti or Bhogika has fiscal implications and shows that the provinces were also meant to be fiscal divisions. Uparika-mahārāja has even a more pronounced fiscal significance. Goptṛ means protector and, doubtless, the governor was expected to protect the people under his charge. The term Rājasthānīya shows that the governor was considered to be a viceroy, representative of the king. Royal princes were sometimes appointed to this office.³ The officer called Kumārāmātya was most probably the minister of a prince-viceroy. Mahākumārāmātya may be an honorific synonym thereof, or a higher grade in the same office.