The governmental polity of the Pallavas was substantially the same as in earlier times. The king was a despot, aided of course by ministers, Purohitas and others whose advice was taken by the king if he thought such a procedure expedient. He was the head of the judiciary and the leader of the armies.

There were no doubt courts of law other than the royal court. The Mattavilasa Prahasanam boldly reveals that the subordinate magistracy was corrupt. The villagers had their own system of limited self-government mostly because there was no centralized bureaucracy to take care of the government of the villages also. This system of village autonomy became more fully established in the early Chola times.

Brahmin settlements permitted to enjoy tax-free lands were growing in number and the Sabhas and the urs were surely in formation even in Pallava times. Many were the sources of revenue for the Pallava king. Apart from the usual land revenue there were the other sources like war booty, cesses, duties, escheats and a number of taxes levied on an ad hoc basis.

Most of these were professional taxes which increased in number during the Chola period. The judiciary was well organised if the account of the court of law and its proceedings as given in the Periyapuranam is any indication.

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Evidence, oral as well as documentary, was taken and recorded; proof was required; witnesses as well as the accuser and the accused were examined; the resulting evidence was weighed and the judgement given after deliberation. Though the king generally led his armies he appointed other commanders also.

The destruction of enemy property and the enslavement of enemy subjects were common practices. The royal army depended mostly on the traditional fourfold division. The polity in general was a continuation and an enlargement of the previous epoch and was a preparation for the oncoming age.