Political Concepts in Ancient India /190

Atharvaveda Sabhā is described as a sister of
Samiti. Cf. sabhā ca ma samitiścāvatām prajā-paterduhitarau
saṁvidāne (Atharvaveda, 7. 170
 
Political Concepts in Ancient India
 
Atharvaveda Sabha is described as a sister of
Samiti3.1). "Perhaps the first was a meeting of

the great men of the tribe while the second was

a mass gathering of all free tribesmen or of

heads of families. These two bodies exerted

much influence on the king and their approval

was necessary to ensure his accession".5
Basham, The Wonder that was India, p. 33.
 
SAMADHIGATAPAÑCA-MAHĀŠŚABDA--See
 

Prāpta-pañca-mahā-sśabda.
 

 
SAMAĀDHI--Political reconciliation. A state of

mutual trust between Kings. In this sense it is

synonymous with SŚama and Sandhi. (AŚ. VII.

17).
 

 
SAMĀHARTĀ--(1) Collector of Revenue. He is

required to supervise the seven sources of reve-

nue income of the state, viz. Durga, Rāṣṭra,

Khani, Setu, Vana, Vraja and Vanikpatha as

detailed in AŚ II.6.
 

(2) One of the 18 Tiīrthas. (see Tiīrtha).
 

(3) Samāhartä was to divide the entire country-

side into four sectors each of which was to be put

under the charge of a subordinate officer called

Sthaānika and into certain Blocks (each con-

taining some five to ten villages), each of which

was to be put under the charge of a subordinate

officer called Gopa (ASŚ II. 35). Through these

subordinate officers the Samahartaāhartā kept a

record of the population, produce and other
sources of income etc.
 
4. Cf. sabha ca ma samitiscavatām praja-paterduhitarau
samvidāne (Atharvaveda, 7. 13.1).
 
5. Basham, The Wonder that was India, p. 33.
 
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sources of income etc.