The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c17.116

c17.116

The administrative system of the seventh century A.D. is practically the same as that of the Gupta age. A few additional details are forthcoming from Bāṇabhaṭṭa, Yuan Chwang and from the inscriptions. A chief minister stands out more clearly than in the data of the Gupta period. Bhaṇḍi, closely related to the royal family, is admittedly superior to all.² The incidents connected with the accession of Harṣa make it clear that all the chief ministers met together to discuss important questions. For the north-west outside the dominions of Harṣa there is an interesting Chinese notice that the king and ministers met together for consultation on affairs of state on the 15th and last day of the month, and then took counsel of the chief priest and finally published their decrees.³ Harṣacarita indicates that ministers were also consulted individually by the king. For instance, Skandagupta, the commandant of the elephant force, is seen urging Harṣa to universal conquest.⁴ In Harṣacarita, the chief military officer—'foremost in every fight'—is called Senāpati.⁵ The war-elephant on which he rode is covered with coat-of-mail, and his tusks are provided with sharp barbs. There was “ a soldier on each side to manage the elephant.”¹ The commander of the cavalry was another high military officer.² As before, the Mahāsandhivigrahika is the foreign minister.³ The Pramātṛi is a counsellor and high officer of state. In the Madhuban Plate Inscription, the office is occupied by the Mahāsāmanta Mahārāja Skandagupta who also acts as the Dūtaka.⁴ Incidentally it appears that feudatories were employed in high offices directly under the suzerain. The supposition is strengthened by the mention of Mahāsāmantas and Mahārājas in the same breath with regular officers in the Madhuban Plates. Among other officers one of the most notable is the Dauḥsādhanika, one who is entrusted with difficult undertakings, a high police officer.⁵ Kumārāmātyas, Rājasthānīyas (viceroys), Viṣayapatis (district officers), and Uparikas (revenue officers) are common to the Vardhana and Gupta inscriptions. The Mahākṣapaṭalika was the great keeper of records. Yuan Chwang states that an accurate record of all happenings was kept.⁶ The mention of Āyuktakas, subordinate officers,⁷ and Cāṭas or police, in Harṣacarita supplies another link with the Gupta times. Again, Cāṭas are debarred from entering agrahāras, probably because their visitations meant some financial