Political Concepts in Ancient India /104

(3) This term means the 'subjects' in Śatapatha
Brāhmaṇa, XIV. 5.1.20. Vedic Index, Vol. I, p. 273.
 
TAKṢĀ-- (1) One of the Ratnins (q.v.) named in
the Maitrāyaṇī Saṁhitā (i.e. the Maitrāyaṇī
edn. of the Yajurveda).
(2) The plain meaning is 'carpenter'. In order
to be one of the Ratnins, the Takṣā must have
been the 'chief royal carpenter'.
(3) Takṣā is also the name of the architect of
the gods. (Apte, p. 227). Hence, it is more
likely that the Takṣā was the chief royal
carpenter cum state architect in chief.
 
TĀPASA VYAÑJANA—A spy or secret agent in
the guise of a mendicant (AS'Ś I. 16).
 
TĪKṢṆA--An extremely courageous secret agent
who would never care for his life. Kauṭilya
describes that for the gain of money the Tīkṣṇas
would fight even with an elephant or a snake.
Cf. ye janapade śūrāstyaktāmāno hastinaṁ vyālaṁ
vā dravyahetoḥ pratiyodhayeyuste tīkṣṇāḥ (AS'Ś
I. 12).
 
TĪRTHA-- (1) Minister.
(2) Head of an administrative department.
(3) There used to be 18 Tīrthas in any adminis-
trative set up.