Indian Antiquary Vol 42

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 297

NOVEMBER, 1913.)
ROCK EDICT VI OF ASORA
283
Parisd : M. Senart. takes it to be synonymous with sanghae and Bühler, as the committee of caste or sect. It is obvious that Bühler's importation of caste or sect is too far-fetched and does not suit the context at all. Taya athaya qualifies the whole sentence. The dispute which might arise in the parishat would be a dispate in the matter of an order charged to the Mahâmâtras and in respect of matters charged to the Mahîmâtras a discussion could hardly be expected to arise in a council of caste or sect. The same objectiou applies to M. Senart's l'assemblee du clergé. I do not think anybody would suggest that the Mabâ mâtras figured as members of the singha. That the parishat was the parishat of the Mahâmâtras is a conclusion which is forced upon us by the context. This conclasion receives confirmation from an independent source, which I propone to notice after commenting on the term Muhamdira.
The confusion with regard to the meaning of this expression has been removed by the recent rendering, the High Ministers.' Tais rendering is confirmed by the Arthasástra, the Mabâ mâtras there are the Highest Ministers.10 I think the term Mahâmâtra, "of high (higher) authority," distinguished the Mabámatra class of ministers from the inferior ministers. Dr. Fleet has noticed in the inscriptions of the Gupta period two grades of offices distinguished from each other by the addition mah1 to particular offices. For the sake of comparsion I would draw attention to a passage of the Sultra-nili, which lays down that each minister in charge of a portfolio was to have two ministers under him as juniors (ii. 109).
For the council-of-ministers we have a technical expression in the Arthasdetra, the mantri-purishat.
hfiagitas T ACTILataa HITET: (p. 29) FEIE APP (sic)- ofta fui a (p. 29) Afyfta 193 (p. 29)
quà siêu sa với Hàn (p. 88). In the edict we have वा पुन महामाचेसुभाचायिके आरोपितं भवति. In the Arthaidatra we are told that an dtyáyika business had to be entrusted to the parishat whose decision was to be followed in the matter : reuniu ar TU HRA
gare i at gras: haranga T uial (p. 29 )
" In case of an diydyika business the mantri-parishat of the ministers shall be called and told (the business). Therein what the majority says or whatever for the success of the matter they tell, shall be done." 11
In the light of this evidence as well as the other considerations put forward above there seems to be strong ground to hold that the parishat of the edict is the mantri-parishat of the
Arthasdstra. The edict, which is purely an administrative one, exhibits the emperor's dissatisfaction at the restiveness of his ministers with regard to his certain commands.13 That the ministers had such wide powers as to be in a position to offer opposition in certain matters can be gathered also by the data of the Greek writers 13.
i, 157.
Cf. Fleet, J. R. A. 8., 1909, p. 997. 1. At the succession of a sovereign, who is a minor, the Mab&matras are tola. He is only the symbol, you sre the real sovereign' (ed. Mysore, 1909, p. 254. Tara
GT FIAT: ). It is they who'oollectively deal with the annual account sheets of the provinces sent to the capital (p. 64. Tantai KUTATWITEIT:
T: + +). 11 of. Also the Sakra-Niti (II. 3).
सभ्याधिकारिप्रकृतिसमासत्सुमते स्थितः।
सर्वना स्थानृपः प्राज्ञः स्वमते न कदाचन ॥ 19 This explanation supports the tradition of the Divyavadana that Radh Agupta opposed the gifts of the king to the Buddhist Brotherhood,
15 Cf. Hence (the "Councillors of State who advise the king') enjoy the prerogative of choosing governors, chiefs of provinces, deputy governore, Boperintendents of the treasury, generals of the army, Admirals of the navy, controllors and commissionors who superintend agrioalbure." Arrian, Indika, XII.