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LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN THE GUPTA EMPİRE 561 Mālwa (called Pradeśa in Samudra Gupta's Eran inscription, and Vishaya in that of Toramāņa), Antarvedi (the Gangetic Doäb), Vālavi (?), Gayā, Koțivarsha ( the Dinājpur region in North Bengal), Mahākhus hāpāra (?), Khādātā pāra (?) and Kundadhāņi.?
The Deśas were governed by officers called Goptris, or Wardens of the Marches, as is suggested by the passage Sarveshu Deśeshu vidhāya Goptrin 'having appointed Goptụis in all the Deśas.' The Bhultis were usually governed by Uparikas or Uparika Mahārājas who were sometimes apparently princes of the Imperial family, e.g., Rūjaputra-deva-bhattāraka, Governor of Pundravardhana bhulti mentioned in a Dāmodarpur plate, Govinda Gupta, Governor of Tirabhukti mentioned in the Basārh seals ? and possibly Ghatotkacha Gupta of Tumain in Central India. The office of Vishaya-pati or District Officer was held by Imperial officials like the Kumār-ūmātyas and Āyultakas, as well as by feudatory Mahārājas like Mātrivishņu of Eran. Some of the Vishayapatis, e.g., Sarvanāga of Antarvedi,' were possibly directly under the Emperor, while others, e.g., those of Koțivarsha, Airikiņa and Tripuri, were usually under provincial Governors. The Governors and District Officers were no doubt helped by officials and dignitaries like the Dandika, Chaur-oddharanika and Dandapāśika * (apparently judicial and police officials ), Nagara Śreshthî (President or Alderman of a city-guild), Sārthavāha (lit. caravan-leader or merchant), PrathamaKulika (foreman of artisans), Prathama-Kāyastha (the
1 Cf. Kundadhana, a town mentioned in the Book of the Gradual Sayings, I, 18 n.
2 Govinda Gupta is known also from the newly discovered Mandasor Ins. of the Mālava-Vikrama year 524 (noticed by Garde, ASI, Annual Report, 1922-23, p. 187 ; Cal. Rev; 1926, July, 155, Ep. Ind,, xix-App. No 7) which mentions his Senādhipa or captain Vāyurakshita, and Väyu's son Dattabhata, Commander-in chief of the forces of king Prabhākara (467-68 A.D.).
3 And Kulavriddhi of Panchanagari in North Bengal). Ep. Ind., xxi, 81. 4 Cf. Dandoāsi, village watchman, JASB, 1916. 30. O. P. 90 -- 71
