The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c9.s2.t1.74

c9.s2.t1.74

At the capital, the king was assisted in the task of administration by a number of officers of whom seven were the most important, viz., the commander of forces, the second in command, the governor of the citadel, the chief priest, the judge, the physician and astrologer.¹ Subsequently there is mention of eighteen principal officers, including the heir-apparent, chamberlain, overseers of the harem, inspectors of prisons, justice, forests and frontiers.² The theory of the Śānti Parvan speaks of more than thirty chief offices.³ In another section of the same Parvan, a king is advised to appoint officers for mines, salt, Śulka (customs), river-crossings, elephants, infantry, etc.⁴ One of the most important of all offices was that of the ambassador. It might be entrusted to any of the chief personages at the court. Drupada entrusts it once to his Purohita.⁵ Kṛṣṇa himself acted as the envoy of the Pāṇḍus. Dhritarāṣṭra once entrusted a diplomatic mission to his younger brother,⁶ and on another occasion to his charioteer.⁷ The charioteer was another great personage. Kṛṣṇa himself acted as the charioteer of Arjuna in the great war. Over all the officers and ministers stood a chief minister. "A king without a minister cannot govern his kingdom even for three days."⁸ Some of the chief officers were relations of the king. After his consecration Yudhiṣṭhira bestows many offices on his relations.⁹