Political Concepts in Ancient India /160

140
 
RATHA-VYUŪHA—A
battle-order formed with
chariots (AŚ X.5).
 

 
RATHAĀDHYAKŞṢA--Superintendent
 
Political Conce of royal
chariots. This officer was needed to supts in Ancient India
 
battleervise
the making of the various kinds of rathas (cha-order formed with
 
of royal
 
This officer was needed to supervise
 
chariots.
 
the m
riots) and to taking of the various kinds of rathas (cha-
riots) and to take care of the horses attached
e care of the horses attached
to the chariots, in the manner of the Aśvā-

dhyaksa.
 
ṣa.
 
RATNIN(S) --(1) Singular form in Sanskrit is Ratnī.

(2) =The court dignitaries.
 
(3) These court dignitaries or literally "jewel
bearers", formed the King's council of high
functionaries in the later Vedic period of Indian
history.
 
(4) of the ancient texts the Satapatha Brāhma-
ṇa, the Taittiriya Samhitā (1.8.9.1 etc.) and the
Taittiriya Brahmana (I.7.3.1 etc.) give us
slightly varying lists of these Ratnins, and their
number is eleven.
 
(5) The council of Ratnins comprised of the
King's very near relatives, courtiers and certain
palace officials, who were looked on as so im-
portant that at the King's consecration (Abhişe-
ka) the King elect had to offer oblations (called
Ratnahavis) in the place of each one of the
Ratnins to ensure their loyalty. In connection
with this ritual of offering Ratna-havis the
scriptures give the names of the Ratnins as
follows:
 
Digitized by
 
Senāni (the commander-in-chief), Purohita (the
royal chaplain), Mahişi (the chief queen), Suta
 
6. Basham, The Wonder that was India, p. 42 and p. 560,
 
Goo
(3) These court digle
 
Orinitaries or literally "jewel
bearers", formed the Kinginal fro's council of high
functionaries in the later Vedic period of Indian
history.
(4) of the ancient texts the Śatapatha Brāhm
UNa-
ṇa, the Taittirīya Saṁhitā (1.8.9.1 etc.) and the
Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa (IVE.7.3.1 etc.) give us
slightly varying lists of these Ratnins, and their
number is eleven.
(5) The council of Ratnins comprised of the
King's very near relatives, courtiers and certain
palace officials, who were looked on as so im-
portant that at the King's consecration (Abhiṣe-
ka) the King elect had to offer oblations (called
Ratnahavis) in the place of each one of the
Ratnins to ensure their loyalty. In connection
with this ritual of offering Ratna-havis the
scriptures give the names of the Ratnins as
follows :
SITY OFenāni (the commander-in-chief), Purohita (the
royal chaplain), MICHIGAN
 
ahiṣī (the chief queen), Sūta