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144
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
leader of the people (Mahasammata), 'who gra-
tifies (rañjayati) the others according to Dham-
ma'.¹
(3) Kalidasa also follows this derivation of the
word Rajā from the root rañj and observes that
such and such Kings are appropriately called
a Rājā, because of pleasing the people.³
(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
(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 Samgha-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, 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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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
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
leader of the people (Mahasammata), 'who gra-
tifies (rañjayati) the others according to Dham-
ma'.¹
(3) Kalidasa also follows this derivation of the
word Rajā from the root rañj and observes that
such and such Kings are appropriately called
a Rājā, because of pleasing the people.³
(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
(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 Samgha-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, 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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Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN