Which officer was known as 'Bhagadugha' during Vedic administration?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — A, Revenue Collector. In later Vedic administration the 'Bhagadugha' was the officer who collected the king's share of the produce — i.e. the tax or revenue collector. The name is literally telling: 'bhaga' means the (king's) share or tax, and 'dugha' (from the root for 'to milk/draw out') means one who draws it in — 'the one who collects the share'. He was one of the ratnins ('jewels' of the king) associated with the royal household.

Why the other options are wrong — (b) The courier/messenger in Vedic texts was the Palagala (or Duta), not the Bhagadugha.  (c) The keeper of forests / king's huntsman was the Govikartana; forestry duties were not the Bhagadugha's.  (d) The superintendent of dice/gambling was the Akshavapa; the Bhagadugha handled revenue, not the gaming establishment.

Concept: By the later Vedic period, kingship had acquired a staff of specialised functionaries, several of them the ratnins ('bearers of jewels') who took part in the king's Rajasuya consecration. Beyond the top trio of Purohita (priest), Senani (commander) and Gramani (village head), the ratnins included the Bhagadugha (tax/revenue collector), Akshavapa (in charge of gambling), Govikartana (forests/hunt) and Palagala (messenger).

State PCS 2023 Q47 — History PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2023 Q47 — History PYQ with Answer