The Mauryan Empire: Administration

The Mauryan Empire was divided into four provinces with the imperial capital at Pataliputra. From
Ashokan Edicts, the name of the four provincial capitals were Tosali (in the east), Ujjain in the west,
Suvarnagiri (in the south), and Taxila (in the north). At the centre of the structure was the king who had
the power to enact laws. Kautilya advises the King to promulgate dharma when the social order based
on the Varnas and Ashramas (stages in life) perishes.
JAGRAN JOSH

The Mauryan Empire was divided into four provinces with the imperial capital
at Pataliputra. From Ashokan edicts, the name of the four provincial capitals
were Tosali (in the east), Ujjain in the west, Suvarnagiri (in the south), and
Taxila (in the north). According to Megasthenese, the empire exercised a
military of 600,000 infantry, 30,000 cavalry, and 9,000 war elephants. For
the purpose of internal and external security, there was a vast espionage
system was there to keep a watch on the officials and messengers went to
and fro. Kings appointed officials to collect taxes from herders, farmers,
traders and craftsmen etc.

The king was the center of administrative superstructure and king used to
select ministers and high officials. Administrative structure was as follows:

King assisted by Mantriparishad (council of ministers) whose members

included Mantriparishad Adhyaksha and below him was as following:

Yuvaraj: The crown prince

Purohita: The chief priest
The Senapati: The commander in chief
Amatya: Civil servants and few other ministers.
Scholars suggest that Mauryan Empire was further divided into various
departments with important officials:

Revenue department: - Important officials: Sannidhata: Chief treasury,

Samaharta: collector general of revenue.
Military department: Megasthenese mentions a committee with six
subcommittees for coordinating military activity of these, one looked after
the navy, the second managed transport and provisions, and the third was
responsible for foot-soldiers, the fourth for horses, the fifth for chariots and
the sixth for elephants.
Espionage Department: Mahamatyapasarpa controlled Gudhapurushas
(secret agents)
Police department: The jail was known as Bandhangara and it was
different from lock-up called Charaka. There were police headquarters in all
principal centers.
Provinicial and Local Administration: important officials: Pradeshika:
modern district magistrates, Sthanika: tax collecting officer under
Pradeshika, Durgapala: governor of fort, Antapala: Governor of frontier,
Akshapatala: Accountant general, Lipikaras: Scribes, Gopas: responsible for
accountants etc.
Municipal Administration: Important officials: Nagaraka: incharge of city
administration, Sita- Adhyaksha: Supervisor of agriculture, samastha-
Adhyaksha: superintendent of market, Navadhyaksha: Superintendent of
ships, Sulkaadhyaksha: Collector of tolls, Lohadhyaksha: Superintendent of
Iron, Akaradhyaksha: Superintendent of mines and Pauthavadhyaksha:
Superintendent of weight and measures etc.
Megasthenes referred for six committees of which five were to look after
Pataliputra’s administration. Industries, Foreigners, Registration of birth and
deaths, Trade, Manufacture and sale of goods and Collection of sales taxes
were under the control of administration.