Administration of Samudragupta discloses the fact that he not only established a vast empire but also left it as legacy to his successors well-knit and well-organised. The Allahabad Pillar Prasasti mentions the name of officials who were known as `Mahadandnayaka` `Kumaramaty` and `Sandhivigrahika`. His administration was harsh and tyrannical and he was very firm towards sinners however generous towards moral people.
Samudragupta`s empire included almost the whole of Northern India excepting Kashmir, Western Punjab, Western Rajputana, Sindh, Gujarat, highlands of Chattisgarh and Orissa. The area directly under his rule seems to have comprised the present Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and a portion of the Vindhya tracts. The Allahabad record mentions the following offices or officials who took part in the administration:
1. Khddyatapdkika - Officer controlling the Royal Kitchen.
2. Sandhivigrahika - Minister for Peace and War.
3. Kumaramatya - Minister who would attend major matters
4. Mahadandanayaka - the Chief of the Police and Criminal Judge.
The different types of the coins of Samudragupta throw interesting light on king`s career and they may be summarized as follows: (a) The Garuda types mark his victory over the Nagas; (b) The Tiger and the River-Goddess types indicate his conquest in the Ganges valley.
He dominated five kingdoms in lower West Bengal, upper Assam, Nepal and the territories farther west and a number of republican clans including the Malavas, the Yaudheyas, the Arjunayanas, the Abhiras in Punjab and Rajasthan and several minor ones in Madhya Pradesh. They paid homage and taxes to him but enjoyed internal autonomy. The political administration in his times is indicated by the titles of Harisena in the Allahabad pillar inscription and by the Eran inscription.
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