Correct Option
The correct option is A tribute paid to the Mughal state.
Explanation
Peshkash was a form of tribute or offering paid by subordinate chiefs and local rulers to the Mughal state.
Forest-dwelling communities and their chiefs were not always fully integrated into the regular agrarian revenue system. Many forest chiefs accepted Mughal authority by paying peshkash, which indicated political submission and acknowledgement of imperial sovereignty.
- A tribute paid to the Mughal state: Correct. Peshkash referred to tribute paid to the Mughal authority.
- A keeper of records: Incorrect. Record-keeping was associated with administrative functionaries, not the term peshkash.
- A revenue official: Incorrect. Peshkash was a payment, not an official post.
- A village headman: Incorrect. A village headman was a local functionary; peshkash denoted tribute.
Key Takeaway: In Mughal administration, peshkash meant tribute paid by subordinate chiefs or groups acknowledging Mughal authority.