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170
 
Political Concepts in Ancient India
 
Atharvaveda Sabha is described as a sister of
Samiti. "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
SAMADHIGATAPAÑCA-MAHĀŠABDA-See
 
Prāpta-pañca-mahā-sabda.
 
SAMADHI-Political reconciliation. A state of
mutual trust between Kings. In this sense it is
synonymous with Sama 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 Tirthas. (see Tirtha).
 
(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
Sthanika 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 (AS II. 35). Through these
subordinate officers the Samaharta 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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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN