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The ministers (mamti, amacca, and saciva ) 5 have been described as very learned (pamdiya), 1. Ibid., 217. 3. Ibid., 293, 330. 2. Ibid., 330. 4. Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa, II.149a. 5. The words mamti and amacca have been used interchangeably once, Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa, 353-54%; while in another place, Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa, 330, differentiation among ministers such as minister (mamti) and prime-minister (mahamamti) is also to be noticed. Saciva, Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa, 314, was similar to mamti in his duties; Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa, 327. 6. Ibid., 276.

proficient in the art of polity (niikusala)¹, pious *** (dhammio), favourable for subjects (payahia) and devoted to their masters (samibhatta) 2. 100 One of the chief duties of a minister was to guide and give proper counsel to the king. A minister has been described as a person who is to be consulted by the king in various matters (bahusu kajjesu pucchanijjo) ³. Instances of ministers being consulted in connection with the marriage of princesses are also to be met with 4. From the example of minister Sambhinnasoa and Harimamsu in the Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa, it is clear that the views of ministers sometimes influenced the kings not only in worldly matters, but also as regards their religious behaviour 5. Being a chief executive (savvakajjavattavaga) ents 6. a minister could exercise his power in various departments 1. Ibid., 62. 3. Ibid., 166. 2. Ibid., 353-54. 4. Ibid., 310, 314, 327. 5. Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa, 166-68, 173-74, 275-78, 312. 6. A minister killed a horse from the royal stable without the knowledge of the king. He was later punished; Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa, 39. Th 10458

101 By his position, a minister was superior not only to the city superintendent of police (nagaraguttiya or arakkhaga) 1 but also to the samamtas², and also had a hold over the army³. The example of the ministers of king Pasannacamda shows that the ministers were capable of ousting a young (bala) king with the help of the army under their control (bhiccaparaniya)4. The main objective of a devoted minister was to enrich the treasury (kosavuddhisamujjaya ). He could be taken into confidence and entrusted with the work of carrying on an inquiry about the theft in the royal granary 6. In one instance, the king asked his minister to find out the truth about the complaint of a merchant about his being cheated by the royal priest. The minister not only found out the facts but suggested a trick to get back the merchant's money kept as a deposit with the priest?. as keeping The king was also helped in other matters such secret hai , helping in the matrimony of the 3. Ibid., 16. 1. Ibid., 142. 2. Ibid., 312. 4. Ibid., 5. Ibid. 142. 7. Ibid., 253. 6. Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa, 62. 4. Ibid., 16.

102 members of the royal family- and help in the times of crisis and distress 2. The instance of Mandaradeva from the Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa shows that the main duty of the ministers was their counsel to the king. Mamdaradeva in his message to Vasudeva states that one of the reasons why he was sure of gaining victory over Vasudeva was the help of his 1. Ibid., 123; also Vasudevahindi(?), 224. 2. Ibid., 243-44; ministers Mahara and Samdilla rear the posthumous son of king Kattaviriya in a hermitage and helped him to regain the throne;B Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa, 233., Hanuma helped Suggiva when he was deposed from the throne; Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa, 243-44. An instance illustrative of the shrewdness of ministers is given in the Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa King of Savatthi ordered his minister to execute prince Migaddhaya as he was found guilty of injuring a buffalo protected by the king. The minister hurriedly initiates the prince as a Jaina monk, thereby averting his capital punishment. The king was pleased with the minister as he save him from the agonies of killing his own son; Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa,270-71.

103 ministers. He describes them as intellectual fortresses (matidugga) of his kingdom-. One of the ministers of the king of Vacchagumma has been described as one reliable (visasaniya) in the matters of the state, the capital, harem, treasury, army and transport 2. This indicates the extent of the power wielded by a minister. The minister has been further side described as a person who remained by the said of the king through thick and thin 3 As such, it is but natural that 3 鈥� AS the ministers (saciva) are stated as representing the king on important occasions like receiving a dignitary 4. also, such a close association resulted in a complete So identification of the fate of the ministers with the fate of their lord. King Mamdaradeva, when defeated by Vasudeva, resolved to renounce the world and to lead his remaining All his ministers followed him.5 life as a tapasa. 1. Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa, II.141a. 3. Ibid,, II.228b. 2. Ibid., II.110a, 228b. 4. When the king of Ujjeni heard of the rescue of his daughter by Vasudeva he asked his ministers (saciva) to receive him on his behalf, Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa, II.gla. 5. Ibid., II.146b.