Page:Shivaji and His Times.djvu/432

412 1. The prime-minister, (Persian Peshwa, Sanskrit Mukhya Pradhan.) His duties were to look after the welfare of the State in general terms, to represent the king in his absence, and to keep peace among the other officers, so as to promote harmony in the administration. All royal letters and charters had to bear his seal below the king's. 2. The auditor, (Persian Majmuadar, Sanskrit Amatya.) He had to check all the accounts of public income and expenditure and report them to the king, and to countersign all statements of accounts both of the kingdom in general and of the particular districts. 3. The chronicler, (Persian Waqia-navis, Sanskrit Mantri.) His duties were to compile a daily record of the king's doings and Court incidents, and to watch over the king's invitation-lists, meals, companions, &c, so as to guard against murderous plots. 4. The superintendent, (Persian Shuru-navis, Sanskrit Sachiv.) He had to see that all royal letters were drafted in the proper style, to revise them, and to write at the head of charters the words Shuru shud, or 'here begins.' He had also to check the accounts of the mahals and parganahs.

5. The foreign secretary, (Persian Dabir, Sanskrit Sumant.) He was the king's adviser on relations with foreign States, war and peace. It was also his duty to keep intelligence about other countries, to receive and dismiss foreign envoys, and maintain the dignity of the State abroad.