Previous Year Question
Which officer was known as ‘Bhagadugha’ during Vedic administration?
Revenue Collector
Messenger
Chief Officer of Forests
Chief Officer of the Gambling Department
Correct Answer: A
Detailed Solution
During the Later Vedic period, some important persons associated with the king were known as Ratnins. They played important roles in royal rituals such as the Rajasuya, and several of them also performed functions connected with royal administration.
Bhagadugha or Bhagadugha was one of these Ratnins. His function was connected with the Bhaga due to the king. ‘Bhaga’ generally referred to the king's share of agricultural produce. Therefore, the Bhagadugha is understood as an official who collected or apportioned the king's share.
IGNCA material on Vedic administration explicitly describes the Bhagadugha as a collector of taxes. Other academic material describes him as the collector of a share or one who apportioned the share, that is, a person associated with collecting or distributing the king's share.
An important historical qualification is necessary here. Administration in the Later Vedic period had not yet developed into a fully organized bureaucracy comparable to that of later states. Therefore, rather than understanding the Bhagadugha as an officer of a modern Revenue Department, it is more accurate to regard him as an early functionary associated with the collection of the royal share or levy.
Among the other options, the Palagala is identified as a messenger, whereas the Akshavapa was associated with dice or gambling. Therefore, neither of them was the Bhagadugha.