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ECONOMIC, POLITICAL & RELIGIOUS CONDITIONS
sub-ruler or a feudal lord or a headman of some village or a chief officer with some land under him. Thus the Samantas can be called as vassals and feudatories, but the PCV calls Śreņika, historically known as a sovereign ruler, a Samanta.
were
Tributary kings:-Sometimes king of some other states conquered by a powerful king but their territories were not usurped. They were reinstalled as kings of their respective states. They are called Bhiccas Bhrtyas (11.19;33.25; 33.124;37.19;37.64;45.2;46.95;54. 41). Such type of kings were autonomous. The idea was to impose the authority (aņaviya 12.144 - anamita or ajñāpita) of the powerful king and the conqueror over the weaker ones. They were required to pay trubutes to their overlord (37.19) in recognition of his suzerainty over them. If any body violated the authority, he was punished (33.62,80). In their own states they were free to govern their lands as they liked. At the time of the coronation of the imperial lord overlord, the titles of the tributary kings were renewed and they were recognised as king of their respective territories (82.25).
or
461
B. Administration.
King ruled over his state from the capital town called Rajadhānī (88.2) which was well fortified with rampart and ditches (2.8-9). He was the administrative head of the state. He administered his state through ministers and various other officers.
Council of Ministers:
The council of ministers 'sahāmajjheman'inam' (26.16) consisted of many ministers who were called Mantrins (31.52;46.86) or Amatyas (5.176;31.57,102), both the terms, used in the same sense (21.85.86). The plurality of ministers (15.14; 65.1) is corroborated by the works on polity (Kautilya 1.8; Sukraniti 2.69-72).
There is a reference to Rajapariṣad (31.93) which was summoned by Dasaratha on the occasion of enthroning Rama. It consisted of Mantries and Samantas (31.50). It seems to be analogous to the modern council of state as Dasaratha had put before them the proposal of crowning Rāma and Kaikeyī is said to have gone there and demanded coronation of Bharata (31.71). Thereafter Dasaratha called his sons, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa and with their consent he granted the promised boon to Kaikeyi. Thus it seems to be a Parisad of royal members, ministers and Samantas who discussed the matters relating to the state.
There is a further reference to Bhadaparisă of king Simhodara who had attacked the lord of Daśapura (33.111). It seems to be a special council of warriors for the purpose of war and military.
