Shivaji established Ashta Pradhan. Ashta Pradhan was a council of eight ministers that administered the Maratha empire. The term Ashta Pradhan literally translates to "the Prime Eight", from the Sanskrit ashta ("eight") and pradhan ("prime"). The eight ministerial roles were as follows: - Pantpradhan or Peshwa - Prime Minister, general administration of the Empire. - Amatya or Mazumdar - Finance Minister, managing accounts of the Empire. - Shurunavis/Sacheev - Secretary, preparing royal edicts. Waqia-Navis - Interior Minister, managing internal affairs especially intelligence and espionage. - Sar-i-Naubat or Senapati Commander-in-Chief, managing the forces and defence of the Empire. - Sumant/Dabir - Foreign Minister, to manage relationships with other sovereigns. - Nyayadhish - Chief Justice, dispensing justice on civil and criminal matters - Panditrao - High Priest, managing internal religious matters.