Political Concepts in Ancient India /147

Glossary
 
to the school of Brṛhaspati sixteen and according

to the school of Usana twenty.³
 
mantripariṣadaṁ dvādaśāmātyān kurvīteti mānavaḥ
ṣodaśeti bārhaspatyāḥ viṁśatim ityauśanasāh. (AŚ. I. 45).
(3) Manu in Manu Samṁ. VII. 54, however,

gives the number as seven or at best eight, using

the term Saciva for Mantrī.⁹
 
Sacivān sapta cāṣṭau vā kurvita suparikṣitān (MS. VII. 54).
(4) In Manusamhitaṁhitā VII. 60/61, Manu suggests

that the number of ministers may be more than

seven or eight, and there should be as many

Amaātyas as necessary for smoothly carrying on

the royal business. Medhatithi points out that
ātithi points out that
Manu Samṁ. VII. 60, where it is advised to

appoint more ministers is an exception (Apavā-

da) to the rule of appointing seven or eight as

stated in Manu Samṁ. VII. 54.¹
 
127
 
yaduktam 'sapta cāṣṭau veti' tasyāyam apavādah (Medhā-
tithi under MS. VII. 60).
(5) Kautilya's own opinion, given after referring

to the views of Manu, Brṛhaspati and Uś'anas,

is that the actual number of ministers should

depend upon the needs of the situation in the
state.
 

state. "Yathāsāmarthyam" iti Kauṭilyah (AŚ I. 15).
(6) While the scope of the Mantriparişad³ṣad re-

mains flexible, Kautṭilya takes care to suggest

that in actual practice the king should take

counsel from only three or at best four Mantrīs.
 
8. mantriparişadam dvāda The term Mantripariṣad is clearly used by Kauṭilya (See under No. 1 above). In the term Mantripariṣad, the word
Mantri, seems to mean executive heads. mantribhistribhiśāmātyān kurviteti mānavaḥ
şodaketi caturbārhaspatyāḥ vimśatim ityaušanasāh.hirvā saha mantrayeta (AŚ. I. 45).
 
9. Sacivan sapta cāṣṭau vā kurvita suparikṣitān (MS. VII. 54).
1. yaduktam 'sapta cāṣṭau veti' tasyāyam apavādah (Medhā-
tithi under MS. VII. 60).
 
2. "Yathāsāmarthyam" iti Kauţilyah (AŚ I. 15).
 
3. The term Mantriparişad is clearly used by Kautilya (
Here the term Mantri seems to mean Counsellors. See
under No. 1 above). In the term Mantriparişad, the word
Mantri, seems to mean executive heads.
 
4. mantribhistribhiś caturbhirvā saha mantrayeta (AŚ I. 15)
Here the term Mantri seems to mean Counsellors. See under
A under
Ātyayika karma.
 
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN