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ADMINISTRATION AND STATECRAFT
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Dhanapāla has mentioned the fact of devotion of the king unto the guru (The preceptor) who even though not included in the list of ministers, exercised a great influence in the court of the king.
The Purohitas (Royal ecclesiasts or chaplains) were generally the ruler's advisers in religious matters. Well-versed in the Atharvan lore, they were expected to ward off all the evils by means of rites and incantations. The boon of Śrī having been conferred on the king the Purohita carrying green Kuśā in hand was spraying the sprays of propitiatory water here and there with golden ewers collected from all sides.? They were also supposed to supervise the studious stock of Brāhmaṇa students repeating their lessons vociferously. The Brāhmaṇas headed by the Head Priest (Purohita) performed, the morning and evening adorations of the king wishing him well.4
Samaraketu ere to his departure for the conquest of the quarters, was being followed by the group of Brāhmaṇas headed by the Purodhā vociferous with the pronunciation of the chanting of the Apratiratha chants (meant to be pronounced at the time of departure).' Adhikārins or Governmental officers such as Dharmastheyas referred to by Dhanapāla were judicial officers according to Dr. Pratipāla Bhatia. They were of the rank of mantrins. Their main function was to advise the king in judicial matters and to prevent injustice being done.
The Aksapatalika' was another high officer whose name was Sudrsti who announced to prince Harivāhana the grant of all the Mandalas of Uttarāpatha such as Kāśmīra and others and to Samaraketu, the Mandalas headed by Anga and others. He seems to have been the head keeper of the accounts who kept a full account of the income of the state and also its expenditure. The Dūta of Kusumasekhara has been described as communicating the request of the former to Candraketu, the king of the
1. Tafacius
9 2. 3reT644
4 74 TM Vol. I p. 62. also see Paramāras p. 213. o angM YIOTH RESA Tasa: 4144191911-74Gsilt41 TM Vol. I p.
159.
3. fequitHUTZT44aariy da: ufuria - TM Vol. II p. 167. 4. TEST: , falleguridatriate TM Vol. II p. 176. 5. stufatetezuar Tau RYTETH Faliraq-GATHTHT: TM Vol. II p. 253. 6. TM Vol. I p. 66 Paramāras p. 213, Vol. III p. 49. Dhanapāla has also mentioned the
word meaning The officers in charge of various departments TM Vol. II p. 208. 7. TM Vol. II p. 232. Paramāras p. 213.
