Administrative System of the Marathas c8.s4.9

c8.s4.9

³⁸ The late Justice Telang, summarised the duties of the Pandit Rao in the following manner :-"It states that the Pandit Rav's duties are to exercise all the ecclesiastical powers of the State, and to order punishment to be inflicted after investigating into what is and is not in accordance with the religious law. He is to receive learned persons on behalf of the State, and countersign all documents that may be issued from the Sovereign relating to Achara, Vyavahara, and Prayaschitta, that is to say, rules of conduct, civil and criminal law, and penances, the three departments of the Dharmashastras. He is also to look after the performance of Shantis and other ceremonials, and the distribution of the royal bounty." Ranade, R. M. P., p. 261.