Political Concepts in Ancient India /164

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Political Concepts in Ancient India
 
(2) According to a traditional etymological de-

rivation, presented by the traditional theory

of the origin of Kingship, the Rūjū is the chosen
ājā is the chosen
leader of the people (Mahaāsammata), 'who gra-

tifies (rañjayati) the others according to Dham-

ma'.¹
 
Cf. dammena pare rañjetīti kho vāseṭṭha rājā. (Dīgha-Nik-
āya, Aggañña Suttanta, III.
See Jayaswal, Ibid., p. 183 and Basham, The Wonder that
was India, p. 82).
(3) Kalidaālidāsa also follows this derivation of the

word Raājā from the root rañj and observes that

such and such Kings are appropriately called

a Rājā, because of pleasing the people.³
 
Cf. tathaiva so'bhudanvartho rājā prakṛtirañjanāt. (Raghu-
vaṁśa, 4.12), rājā prajārañjana-labdhavarṇaḥ (Ibid., 6.21),
and prakṛtimaṇḍalam anurañjayan rājyaṁ karoti. (Vikramorva-
śīyam). King Khāravela of Orissa (c. 170 B.C.) says that he
had pleased his thirty-five hundred thousand subjects, with a
very similar expression cf. panasisahi satasahasehi pakatiyo ca
rañjayati (Hāthigumphā Inscription of Khāravela, Line 4).
(4) The term meant a vassal king or even a

smaller vassal king in relation to the paramount

rulers assuming the titles like mahārāja, rājā-

tirāja, and mahārājādhirāja, as was the vogue

from Gupta times onwards.³
 
Basham, The Wonder that was India, p. 84.
(5) The term applied to all the Heads of the

families capable of taking part in the tribal as-

semblies constituting the government of the non-

monarchical Republics or Samṁgha-states. 'Ac-

cording to a rather dubious Buddhist tradition

the Licchavis had no less than 7707"' such Rājās.
 
1. Cf. dammena pare ranjetīti kho vāseṭṭha rājā. (Dīgha-Nik-
aya, Agganna Suttanta, III.
 
See Jayaswal Basham, Ibid., p. 183 and Basham, The Wonder that
was India, p. 82).
 
2. Cf. tathaiva so'bhudanvartho rājā prakṛtiranjanāt. (Raghu-
vaṁśa, 4.12), rājā prajāranjana-labdhavarṇaḥ (Ibid., 6.21),
and prakrtimandalam anuranjayan rajyam karoti. (Vikramorva-
siyam). King Khāravela of Orissa (c. 170 B.C.) says that he
had pleased his thirty-five hundred thousand subjects, with a
very similar expression cf. panasisahi satasahasehi pakatiyo ca
ranjayati (Hathigumphā Inscription of Khāravela, Line 4).
3. Basham, The Wonder that was India, p. 84.
4. Basham, Ibid., p. 96.
 
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