The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c21.16.3

c21.16.3

Besides the land revenue and customs, we read of Ganim-burrâr, war-tax, corresponding perhaps to the Turuşkadaṇḍa of the eleventh and twelfth centuries A.D., Ghar-burrâr, house-tax, Hal-burrâr, plough-tax, Neotâ-burrâr, marriage-tax.⁴ There were various other imposts in different regions, such as those on sales.¹ As in ancient days there were special frontier-officers always appointed from the headquarters and corresponding to the Antapâlas of literature and the inscriptions.² At the top of the administration stood a few ministers, often four in number, generally headed by a Pradhâna or chief minister who, needless to say, was responsible to the Râja.³ As in ancient days again, government servants, high and low alike, were not infrequently hereditary. Payments were often made in grants of land which, along with the hereditary transmission of office, must have accentuated feudalism. There were numerous court and household officers who held large grants of land. As in antiquity there were titles and other insignia of dignity such as standards, kettledrums, heralds.⁴ Râjpût magnates followed the ancient tradition of making grants to poets, scholars, priests, or favourites and remitting the whole or part of the revenues. The state sometimes concerned itself with minute affairs of life. Thus, it was once enacted that none shall attempt to carry anything away from the public feast.