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The Mauryan Empire's Communication System: A Study of Messengers in Ashoka's Edicts, Arthashastra, and Mudrarakshasa

Writer's picture: CRIAAS NashikCRIAAS Nashik

Puja Kumari : M.A. Museology ( Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda)

Divya Chowdhary: M.A. Palaeography, Epigraphy & Numismatics (Indian Institute of Heritage)

Saurabh Patil: M.A. AIHC & Archaeology (Deccan College PGRI, Pune)



National Post Day reminds us of the importance of an efficient communication system in maintaining unity and governance across vast territories. The Mauryan Empire, one of ancient India’s largest and most powerful empires, had a sophisticated communication network that helped it govern efficiently. This article explores how the Mauryan rulers, particularly Ashoka, managed communication through messengers and officials to maintain control over a near pan-Indian empire. We will delve into Ashoka's Rock Edicts, Kautilya's Arthashastra, and Vishakhadatta's play, Mudrarakshasa, to understand the messenger system in the Mauryan Empire.


Ashoka’s Edicts: Communication in Action

Emperor Ashoka’s reign (3rd century BCE) is a key period in understanding the communication systems of the Mauryan Empire. His Major Rock Edicts reflect the role of messengers and officials in transmitting royal orders and ensuring public welfare. Two of his edicts, the 3rd and 6th Major Rock Edicts, specifically highlight how Ashoka maintained a continuous flow of information across his empire.


The 3rd Major Rock Edict emphasizes the responsibility of regional officers in spreading the emperor’s message and monitoring public behavior. Ashoka ordered that every five years, high-ranking officials, including the yuktas, rajukas, and pradesikas (local and district administrators), should tour the empire to promote Dhamma (moral law), encourage good behavior, and collect reports on the people’s welfare:



devānaṃpiyo piyadasi rājā evaṃ āha [.] dvādasavasābhisitena mayā idaṃ āṇapitaṃ [.]

sarvata vijite mama yutā ca rājūke ca prādesike ca paṃcasu vāsesu anusaṃ

yānaṃ niyātu etāyeva athāya imāya dhamānusāsti yathā anyā

ya pi kaṃmāya [.] sādhu mātari ca pitari ca sustrūsā mitrasaṃstuta- ṇātinaṃ bāmhaṇa –

samaṇānaṃ sādhu dānaṃ prāṇānaṃ sādhu anāraṃbho apavyayatā apabhāḍatā sādhu [.]

parisā pi yute āṇapayisati gaṇanāyaṃ hetuto ca vyaṃjanato ca [.]


"Everywhere in my empire, the yuktas, with the rajukas and the pradesikas, shall go on tour every five years, in order to instruct people in the Dhamma as well as for other purposes."

(Source: Click here!)


This system of officials regularly traveling across the empire ensured that Ashoka’s messages and policies were effectively communicated and implemented. The edict also highlights the use of written records to make the emperor’s instructions clear and transparent to the public.

6th Major Rock Edict provides an insightful look into Ashoka’s personal involvement in communication. It shows that the emperor wanted to be informed of public business at all times, regardless of his location or activity:


"In the past, the quick dispatch of business and the receipt of reports did not take place at all times. But I have now arranged it thus. At all times, whether I am eating, or am in the women’s apartments, or in my inner apartments, or at the cattle-shed, or in my carriage, or in my gardens – wherever I may be, my informants should keep me in touch with public business.



……. rājā evaṃ āha atikate aṃtaraṃ

bhūtapuva ta …. ma athakamena va paṭivedanā vā ta mayā evaṃ kataṃ [.]

save kāle bhuṃjamānasa me orodhanamhi gabhāgāramhi vacamhi va

vinītamhi ya ca uyānesu ca savatra paṭivedakā sṭitā atha me janasa

paṭivedatha iti [.] savratā ca janasa athe karomi [.] ya ca kici mukhato

anāpayāmi svayaṃ dāpakaṃ vā strāpāpakaṃ vā ya vā puna mahāmatresu

ācayike āropitaṃ bhavati tāya athāya vivādo nijhati saṃto parisāya

ānaṃtaraṃ dhu paṭivedetaya me savatā sarve kāle [.] evaṃ mayā ānapitaṃ [.] nāsti hi me toso

usṭānamhi atha sataṃraṇāya va [.] kaṭavyametā hi me sava lokahitaṃ [.]

….. ca puna esa mūle usṭānaṃca atha saṃtīraṇā ca [.] nāsti hi kaṃmataraṃ

save logahitaptā [.] ya ca kīciṃ parākramāmi ahaṃ kitiṃ bhūtānaṃ ānaṃṇaṃ gacheyaṃ

idha ca nāni sukhāvayāmi paratrā svaṃga ārādhayaṃtu [.] ta etāya athāya

ayaṃ dhamaṃlipi likhāpitā kitiṃ ciraṃ tisṭeya iti tathā ca me putrā potā ca prapotrā ca

anuvataraṃ savalokahitāyaṃ  [.] dukaraṃ tu ida anatra agena parākamena

(Source: Click here!)


This indicates that Ashoka maintained a well-structured system of messengers and informants who provided him with real-time information about the state of the empire, even when he was engaged in private affairs. The emperor’s ability to make decisions and issue orders on the move showcases the efficiency of the Mauryan communication network.

Hence, we can understand that Ashoka relied on both messengers and regional officials to communicate with distant provinces, monitor the welfare of his people, and enforce his moral and administrative policies.


Messengers and Diplomacy in Arthashastra

While Ashoka’s edicts provide evidence of a practical communication system, the Arthashastra, written by Kautilya (also known as Chanakya), offers a more detailed and systematic analysis of how messengers should operate in the Mauryan administration. The Arthashastra, a treatise on statecraft and governance, was composed during the time of Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Mauryan Empire (c.4thc entruy BCE).

In the Arthashastra, Kautilya categorizes messengers into three types based on their qualifications:

  1. Nisṛṣṭārthah: These were high-ranking envoys who had ministerial qualifications and were entrusted with sensitive and complex missions.

  2. Parimitārthah: Slightly lower in rank, these envoys were still competent but lacked some of the higher qualifications of the Nisṛṣṭārthah.

  3. Śāsanaharah: The lowest-ranking envoys who were primarily tasked with delivering royal orders but did not engage in high-level diplomatic negotiations.

The role of these envoys extended beyond merely carrying messages. They were responsible for gathering intelligence on enemy fortifications, military strength, and political alliances. Before embarking on a mission, envoys had to meticulously prepare for their journey, ensuring they had all the necessary transportation, supplies, and strategies. They were expected to assess the reactions of foreign rulers, form relationships with local officials, and collect valuable information, making them crucial not just for diplomacy but also for espionage.

Kautilya also emphasizes the importance of an envoy’s behaviour during their mission. They had to be cautious, avoid temptations, and stay discreet. Their responsibilities included negotiating treaties, influencing political alliances, and even gathering covert information through a network of spies, such as merchants and ascetics.

Though we have no concrete evidence to prove that all the description above was implemented, the messenger system described in the Arthashastra at the very least highlights the understanding of a communication system on a large scale to facilitate the maintenance of the vast and diverse Mauryan Empire, allowing it to function smoothly through effective communication, diplomacy, and intelligence-gathering.


Messengers and Spies in Mudrarakshasa

The Mudrarakshasa, a political drama written by Vishakhadatta (8th century CE), provides a dramatic portrayal of the role of messengers in the Mauryan Empire. The play revolves around the political intrigue following the fall of the Nanda dynasty and Chandragupta Maurya’s rise to power, aided by his chief advisor, Chanakya.

In this play, messengers are not just carriers of messages; they are active participants in political schemes and intelligence operations. Chanakya uses a network of secret messengers and spies to manipulate political rivals and ensure Chandragupta’s victory. These messengers carried secret documents and coded messages to rival courts, reflecting the Mauryan reliance on covert communication as described in the Arthashastra.

One of the most prominent uses of messengers in Mudrarakshasa is when Chanakya sends envoys to negotiate with Rakshasa, the former minister of the Nandas, to win him over to Chandragupta’s side. This highlights the importance of diplomatic messaging and the use of messengers to shape political alliances and negotiations.

The play also underscores the dangerous and delicate nature of the envoy’s role. Messengers were expected to act with discretion, especially when dealing with hostile forces. They were often placed in life-threatening situations, yet they were expected to remain loyal and communicate their message faithfully.

Through the portrayal of messengers in Mudrarakshasa, we see how the Mauryan Empire utilized intelligence and communication not only to govern but also to secure its dominance in the political landscape of ancient India.



Conclusion

In conclusion, the communication systems established during Ashoka's reign highlight the Mauryan Empire's sophisticated administrative and diplomatic mechanisms. The 6th Major Rock Edict demonstrates Ashoka's commitment to governance through a network of officials and messengers, facilitating the spread of Dhamma and direct engagement with subjects.

Kautilya's Arthashastra further details the roles of messengers, emphasizing their responsibilities in intelligence gathering and diplomacy. The Mudrarakshasa illustrates their involvement in political intrigue and espionage, showcasing the importance of discreet communication in shaping alliances.

Overall, these historical sources reveal that effective communication was crucial for maintaining authority and promoting the values of the Mauryan Empire, reflecting a deep understanding of governance that contributed to its lasting legacy.


References


  1. Kangale, R.P. (1982) “Kautiliya Arthasastra’’ Maharashtra Rajya Sahitya Sanskruti Mandal, Mumbai 

  2. Kale, M.R. (1911) “Mudrarakshasa of Viśākhādattta” Motilal Banarasidas, Delhi

  3. https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/essay/shishupala-vadha-study/d/doc1150150.html

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