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Samharta, the chief of the Revenue Department, was in charge of the collection of all revenues of the empire. The revenues came from land, irrigation, customs, shop tax, ferry tax, forests, mines and pastures, license fee from craftsmen, and fines collected in the law courts. The land revenue was normally fixed as one sixth of the produce. The main items of expenditure of the state related to king and his household, army, government servants, public works, poor relief, religion, etc.
The Maurya kings were benevolent despots and they were always eager to do well of their people. It was essentially for this reason that the king dared not to do anything which make people unhappy and alienate them.
This is so far the power and position of the king is concerned. But he could not run this vast empire alone. So he had to depend on various officials and ministers. The Mauryan King had to depend on the council of ministers for the success of the Mauryan administration. The Council of Ministers of Mauryan Empire were known as the Mantri Parishad.
The administration of Mauryan dynasty was controlled by the King. The king was the supreme and sovereign authority of the Mauryan Empire Administration. He had the supreme executive, legislative and judicial power and functions in the government.
As the head of the executive, the Mauryan king maintained social order by punishing the guilty. It was his duty to protect the life and property of his subjects. He appointed ministers and other officers of the royal administration. He was to collect report from the spies. He was too laid down the general lines of policy to be followed by his subordinate officials. He was to plan different campaigns and movements.
Firstly, Mauryan Empire before Asoka was essentially Hindu State. According to the Hindu concept the Supreme Sovereign of the State was Dharma or law and the king was merely its guardian.
Secondly, the Mauryan king never dared to defy the ancient laws and usage.
Thirdly, the king was aided and advised by a Mantri Parishad. In ordinary times he could ignore the advice of his ministers. But in times of emergency it was obligatory on him to hear the individual and collective advice of his ministers.
Fourthly, the Brahmins had great influence over the king and even the later dared not to disobey them. Instead he always had to look for their support.
Fifthly, as the powers of the Mauryan government was was decentralized in nature, the provincial governor and provincial ministers had right to be consulted by the king especially in all provincial matters.
The Mauryan king was the head of the judicial department. It was his duty to ensure justice to the people and redress their grievances. The Mauryan Empire was vast and this vastness debarred the king from personally disposing of all the cases. But he was the final court of appeal and issued ready judgment. The Mauryan kings remained whole day in the court to hear appeals from the people and in this course he even never cared for these personal amenities. King Asoka made many reforms in the judicial system of the Mauryan Empire.
The king had the sovereign power of law making and also the power and right to supersede usage and equity.
In addition to all these the king was the supreme commander of the army and head of the Military administration of Mauryan Empire. The King was also the ultimate authority of the bureaucracy. The king also controlled the Mauryan empire revenue system.
It is true that the Mauryan kings enjoyed huge power. But, still there were several limits upon the royal authority. We can summaries these limitations in the following manner: