Political History Of Ancient India

SR No.: 032292
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hemchandra Raychaudhari
Publisher: University of Calcutta
Publication Year: 1950
Total Pages: 714
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

Page 348

OFFICIALS IN DISTRICTS
319
is no reference to the Rajjukas proper although on p. 60 “Rajju” is mentioned in conjunction with "Chora Rajju."
As regards the Pradeśikas or Prādesikas, Senart, Kern and Biihler understood the term to denote local governors or local chiefs. Smith took it to mean District Officers. Hultzsch compares it with Prāde. śikeśvara of Kalhana's Rājatarangini. The word occurs only in the Third Rock Edict where the functionaries in question are included with the Rājukas and the Yutas in the ordinance of the Anusamyāna or circuit. Thomas derives the word from pradeśa which means report and identifies the Prādesikas or Pradeśikas of the Edict with the Pradeshtris of the Arthaśāstra. The most important functions of the Pradeshtris were Bali-pragraha (collection of taxes or suppression of recalcitrant chiefs), Ranţakasodhana (administration of criminal justice ), Choramārgana, (tracking of thieves ) and Adhyakshāņām adhyaksha purushāņām cha niyamanam (checking superintendents and their men). They acted as intermediaries between the Samāhartri on the one hand and the Gopas, Sthānikas and Adhyakshas on the other. It is, however, doubtful if the Prādesikas can really be equated with Reporters. The more probable view is that they correspond to the subordinate governors, the nomarchs, hyparchs and meridarchs of the Hellenistic kingdoms.
As to the Yutas or Yuktas, they are described by Manu` as the custodians of Pranashțādhigata dravya
1 IV. 126.
2 JRAS, 1915, p. 97, Arthaśāstra, p. 111. In the Vishņu Purāņa, V, 26 3. Pradeśa has apparently the sense of counsel, instruction. S. Mitra suggests, (Indian Culture, I, p. 310) that the Prādesikas were Mahāmātras of the provincial governments, while the Rājūkas were Mahāmātras of the central government.
3 Cf. Arthaśāstra, pp. 142, 200, 217, 222. Pradeshtris also occur in the Irda grant. Ep. Ind. XXII. 150 ff.
4 VIII 34.