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280 POLITICAL HISTORY OF ANCIENT INDIA of the secret information gathered by spies, reception of envoys, etc. 1
It was the king who laid down the broad lines of policy and issued rescripts for the guidance of his officers and the people. Control was maintained over the most distant officials by an army of secret reporters and overseers and, in the days of Chandragupta's grandson, by itinerant judges. Communication with them was kept up by a network of roads, and garrisons were posted at strategic points.
Kautilya holds that Rajatva (sovereignty) is possible only with assistance. A single wheel can never move. Hence the king shall employ Sachivas and hear their opinion. The Sachivas or Amātyas of Kautilya correspond to the "seventh caste" of Megasthenes which assisted the king in deliberating on public affairs. This class was small in numbers, but in wisdom and justice excelled all the others.3
The most important amongst the Sachivas or Amātyas were undoubtedly the Mantrins or High Ministers, probably corresponding to the Mahāmātras of Aśoka's Rock Edict VI and the "advisers of the king" referred to by Diodoros.* They were selected from those Amūtyas whose character had been tested under all kinds of allurements. They were given the highest salary, viz., 48,000 paņas per annum. They assisted the king in examining
1 Kautilya, Bk. 1, Ch. xvi; xvii; Bk. VIII, Ch. i. Cf. Asoka's Rock Edicts III (regulation about alpa vyayatā and alpa bhāndatā). V (appointment of high officials), VI (relations with the Parishad, and collection of information from the Pațivedakā), and XIII (diplomatic relations with foreign powers).
2 Cf. Manu, VII. 55. 3 Chinnock, Arrian, p. 413. 4 II, 41.
5 Sarvopadhā śuddan Mantrinah kuryāt.-Arthaśāstra, 1919, p. 17. For upadhā see also the Junāgadh Rock Inscription of Skanda Gupta.
6 Kautilya, p. 247. According to Smith (EHI, 4th ed., p. 149) the value of a silver pana may be taken as not far from a shilling,
