Political Concepts in Ancient India /192

172
 
Political Concepts in Ancient India
 
denced by Pāṇini III.3.86 and Majjhima

Nikaāya (1.4.5.35).¹
 
Saṁghodghau.gaṇa-praśaṁsayoḥ (Pāṇini III. 3. 86).
imesam pihi bho gotama samghānaṁ ganānaṁ seyathīdam
vājjinaṁ mallānaṁ (Majjhima Nikāya, 1.4.6.35).
(3) Typical examples of Samgha-republics are
ṁgha-republics are
those of the Vajjis and Mallas referred to in the

Majjhima Nikaya.
 
āya.
(4) From Kautṭilya we learn that States with

Samṁgha form of government were prevalent

side by side with the states with monarchical

form of government. In ASŚ XI.1 he observes

that a king should always endeavour to gain the

Samṁghas as ally. The gain of the Samghas as
ṁghas as
ally is the best amongst the gains of wealth,
arms and army.
arms and army. Saṁghalābho daṇḍa-mitra-lābhānām uttamaḥ (AŚ XI. 1).
He further observes that the

Samṁghas are unvulnerable to the enemies be-
cause of their unity³
cause of their unity. Some of the aṁgha hi saṁhatatvādadhṛsyaḥ pareṣām (AŚ XI. 1).
Samgha-
ome of the Saṁgha-
republics named by Kautilya areṭilya are--Licchivikas,

Vrajikas, Mallakas, Madrakas, Kukuras, Kurus

and Pancalas."
 
ñcālas. See AŚ XI. 1.
 
SAMṀGHA-MUKHYA --(1) Same as Ganṇa-mukhya.
 

(2) While the term Gana refers to the entire
ṇa refers to the entire
political community (having a republican type

of government without a single King) there seems

to have been a governing body of the republics,

comprising of the Ganṇamukhyas (Ganṇa-chiefs)

and a Ganṇa-pradhana (Ganṇa-president).5
 
Cf. Jayaswal, Hindu Polity, p. 103.
(3) Kautilya suggests fair and foul means for
ṭilya suggests fair and foul means for
polluting the character of the Samṁgha-mukhyas
9. Samghodghau.gaṇa-praśaṁsayoḥ (Pāṇini III. 3. 86).
1. imesam pihi bho gotama samghānaṁ ganānaṁ seyathidam
và jjinam matlanam (Majjhima Nikāya, 1.4.6.35).
 
2. Samghalabho daṇḍa-mitra-lābhānām uttamaḥ (AŚ XI. 1).
3. Samgha hi saṁhatatvādadhrsyaḥ pareşām (AS XI. 1).
4. See AS XI. 1.
 
5. Cf. Jayaswal, Hindu Polity, p. 103..
 
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