In the context of the polity of the 7th century, the term 'samanta' meant:

In the polity of the 7th century and later, a "samanta" was a subordinate ruler or feudatory, who accepted the overlordship of a more powerful king.

About samantas:

• The word originally meant a "neighbour", and later came to mean a subordinate ruler.
• NCERT explains that, by the 7th century, there were big landlords or warrior chiefs in different regions of the subcontinent, who were acknowledged by existing kings as their samantas or subordinates.
• Samantas were expected to bring gifts to their kings or overlords, be present at their courts, and provide them with military support.
• As samantas gained power and wealth, many declared themselves to be "maha-samanta", "maha-mandaleshvara" (great lord of a circle or region), and so on.
• Sometimes, they asserted their independence from their overlords.
• One such example was the Rashtrakutas, who were subordinate to the Chalukyas of Karnataka until the mid-8th century, when their chief overthrew his overlord.

The samanta system:

• It developed during and after the Gupta period, as kings granted land to officials, Brahmanas and military chiefs.
• The samantas had their own armies, collected revenue from their areas, and administered justice.
• This led to the fragmentation of political power, which historians call "Indian feudalism".
• The emperor (often called "maharajadhiraja") ruled with the support of many samantas.
• Harsha's empire was a confederation of many samantas.

Ranks of samantas:

"Samanta", "mahasamanta", "mandaleshvara" and "mahamandaleshvara".

Other terms:

"Gramika" or "gramapati": village headman.

Why not the other options?

• ✗A village headman was called a gramika or gramapati.
• ✗A revenue collector had other titles.
• ✗A royal priest had a different title.