________________
320 POLITICAL HISTORY OF ANCIENT INDIA (lost property which was recovered). In the Arthaśāstra, too, they are mentioned in connection with Samudaya or state funds! which they are represented as misappropriating. Hultzsch suggests that they were 'secretaries' employed for codifying royal orders in the office of the Mahāmātras. The Pulisū or Agents are apparently identical with the Purushas or Rāja Purushas of the Arthaśāstra.? Hultzsch prefers to equate them with the Gūdha-purushas and points out that they were graded into high ones, low ones, and those of middle rank.) They were placed in charge of many people and controlled the Rājukas. The Pațivedakā or Reporters are doubtless the Chāras mentioned in Chapter 16 of the Arthaśāstra, while the Vachabhumikas or "Inspectors of cowpens” were evidently charged with the superintendence of “Vraja” referred to in Chapter 24. The Lipikaras are the royal scribes one of whom, Chapada, is mentioned by name in Minor Rock Edict II. Dūtas or envoys are referred to in Rock Edict XIII. If the Kauţiliya is to be believed, they were divided into three classes, viz., Nisrishţārthāh or Plenipotentiaries, Parimitārthāh or Chargès d'Affaires and Śūsanaharas or conveyers of royal writ.? The Āyuktas possibly find mention in the Kalinga Edicts. In the early Post-Mauryan and Scythian Age Āyuttas appear as village officials. In the Gupta Age they figure as officers in charge of
1 Cf. also Mbh, ii. 5. 72. Kachchichchāya vyāye yuktaḥ sarve ganaka lekhakāḥ.
2 Pp. 59, 75.
3 The three classes of Purushas are also known to the Great epic (Mbh). ii. 5. 74.
4 Pillar Edict VII. 5 P. 38. 6 Pp. 59-60.
7 With the Sasanaharas may be compared the Lekha-hārakas of the Harshacharita, Uchchhāsa II, p. 52.
8 Lüders' List, No. 1347.
