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APRIL, 1921]
ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM OF SHIVAJI
131
altogether harmless, Shivaji further prohibited them from building any walled or bastioned castle; and, like Henry II of England, he demolished some of the strongholds of these local tyrants.19 "In the provinces, Sabhasad says, the Rayats were not to be subjected to the jurisdiction and regulations of the zemindars, the Deshmukh or the Desai. If they offer to Plunder the rayats, by assuming authority over them, it does not lie in their power. The Adilshahi, the Nizamshahi and the Mughlai Desh was conquered by (Shivaji); in the Desh all the rayats used to be under the Patil and the Kulkarni of those places, and the Deshkukhs. They used to make the collection and to pay an unspecified sum (as tribute). For a village where the Mirasdars took one to two thousand (Hons or Rupees ?), (they) used to render two hundred to three hundred as quit-rent. Therefore the Mirasdar grew wealthy and strengthened (himself) by building bastions, castles and strongholds in the village and enligting footmen and musketeers. They did not care to wait on the revenue-officers. If the revenueofficers said that they could pay more revenue, (the Mirasdar) stood up to quarrel with them. In this way (they grew) unruly and forcibly misappropriated the (lands in the) Desh. On this account did the Raja demolish the bastions, the castles and the strongholds. After conquering the Desh, where there were important forts, he placed his garrison. And nothing was left in the hands of Mirasdars. This done, (he) prohibited all that the Miras. dars used to take at their sweet will, by Inam (right) or revenue farming, and fixed the rates of the dues in cash and grains for Zamindars, as well as the rights and the perquisites of the Deshmukh, the Deskulkarni, and the Patil, and the Kulkarni, according to the yield of the village. The Zamindars were forbidden to build bastioned castles. (They were to) build houses (and) live (therein). Such were the regulations framed for the provinces." In this manner the danger of feudal anarchy was to some extent averted. Like the Kamavisdars and the Subadars of the Peshwa period, the Karkung, Taraf
dars, Havaldars and Subadars of Shivaji had to look after all The Ashta Pradhar: branches of Civil administration. At the head of the Government Council.
was the king himself, assisted by a council of state or the Rajmandal. It is also known as the Ashta Pradhan council, as eight ministers had seats in it. These were:
(1) The Peshwa or the Mukhya Pradhan. (2) The Mazumdar or the Amatya. .. (3) The Waknis or the Mantri. (4) The Dabir or the Sumanta. (5) The Surnis or the Sachiva. (6) The Pandit Rav or the Royal priest.
(7) The Senapati or the Commander-in-chief and (8) The Nyayadhish or the Chief Justice. 19 Sabhasad, pp. 32-33.
मुलखांत जमीदार, देशमुख व देसाई यांचे जप्तीखाली कैदेत रवत नाही. इदलशाही निजामशाही मोगलाई देश कबज केला, त्यादेशांत मुलुकांचे पाटील कुळकर्णी यांचे हाती (व) देशमुखांचे हाती कुल रयत यांनी कमाविसी करावी आणि मोघम टक्का यावा हजार दोन हजार में गांवी मिरासदारांनी घ्यावे ते गांवीं दोनशें तीनशे दिवाणांत खंड मक्ता यावा त्यामुळे मिरासदार पैके करी होऊन गांवासरे वाडे कोट बांधून प्यादे बंदुखी ठेवन वळावले. दिवाणास भेटणे नाही दिवपाने गुंजाईस अधिक सांगितल्याने भांडावयास उभे राहतात ये जातीने पुंड होकन देश बळाविले स्वास देश काबीज करून रेवाडे कोट पाडिले. नामांकित कोट जहाला तेथे ठाउँ ठेविले आणि मिरासदारांचे हावी नाहीसें ठेविलें असे करून मिरासदार इनाम इजारतीने मनास मानेसारखे आपण घेत होते ते सर्व अमानत करून जमीदारास गला व मस्त गांव पाहून देशमुखास व देश कुळकर्णी यांस व गटील कुळकर्णी यांसी हक बांधून दिला. जमीवारांनी वाडा रजांचाबांधु नब घर बांधून राहावें ऐसा मुलकचा बंद केला.
