The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c20.49

c20.49

The Belava Copper-plate Inscription of Bhojavarmadeva of East Bengal, in the 11th century A.D., shows the fundamental political conditions to be the same but mentions a few additional offices which seem to have existed there. The king has all the three grand titles and addresses his command first to Rājans, Rājanyakas, Rājñīs (consorts of Rājans) and Rāṇakas. Here are the various bodies of feudatories. After Rājaputras or princes who may, in many cases, have occupied high offices, comes the Rājāmātya or chief minister. After the Purohita comes the Piṭhikāvitta whose functions are not clear. Then there are the Mahādharmādhyakṣa or chief judge, Mahāsandhivigrahika, minister of peace and war, Mahāsenāpati, commander-in-chief, Mahāmudrādhikṛita, as before, Antaraṅgabṛihaduparika, chief private secretary or superintendent of the seraglio or chief physician, Mahākṣapaṭalika, chief keeper of records, Mahāpratihāra, grand chamberlain, Mahābhogika, chief revenue officer, or provincial governor, Mahāvyūhapati, chief master of military arrays, Mahāpilupati, chief keeper of elephants, Mahāgaṇastha, chief commander of a gaṇa squadron, Dauḥsādhika, a special police-officer, or porter, or superintendent of villages, Cauroddharaṇika, a police-officer who had to deal with thieves, then inspectors of the flotilla, elephants, horses, cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep, etc., Gaulmikas, superintendents of forests or commanders of gulma squadrons, Daṇḍapāśikas, police-officers or executioners, Daṇḍanāyakas (magistrates), Viṣayapatis or district officers, other Adhyakṣas, superintendents or chief officers, Cāṭas, petty police-officers, Bhaṭas, soldiers.²