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Political Concepts in Ancient India
works deal with all the aspects of a King's adminis-
tration and diplomatic policy. The Arthaśāstra
of Kautilya presents us the most comprehensive
list of items that should generally find place in a
treatise on politics. Apart from the topics dealt
with in the Arthaśāstra, a work like the Santi Parva
also raises a question as to how the institution of
Kingship originated.
Thus, for the purpose of compiling and studying
the ancient Indian political terms we have to ex-
amine and explore the various aspects of ancient
Indian political life and thought as depicted in the
corpus of literature surveyed above, and those
various aspects may be indicated in broad outlines
as follows:
The original state of anarchy and the origin of
the King and government.
The concept of the State-the various constituent
elements of the State (traditionally called Angas
or Prakṛtis)-the territory and its division into
the town and the countryside.
The various forms of government-republican
and monarchical forms-the Samgha or Gana
republics.
The popular assemblies in a monarchical form of
government-limits of the authority of the King.
The different degrees of the supremacy of the
King-the Emperor-the ordinary independent
ruler-the feudatories, etc.
The royal consecration and other royal festivals
and rituals.
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Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Political Concepts in Ancient India
works deal with all the aspects of a King's adminis-
tration and diplomatic policy. The Arthaśāstra
of Kautilya presents us the most comprehensive
list of items that should generally find place in a
treatise on politics. Apart from the topics dealt
with in the Arthaśāstra, a work like the Santi Parva
also raises a question as to how the institution of
Kingship originated.
Thus, for the purpose of compiling and studying
the ancient Indian political terms we have to ex-
amine and explore the various aspects of ancient
Indian political life and thought as depicted in the
corpus of literature surveyed above, and those
various aspects may be indicated in broad outlines
as follows:
The original state of anarchy and the origin of
the King and government.
The concept of the State-the various constituent
elements of the State (traditionally called Angas
or Prakṛtis)-the territory and its division into
the town and the countryside.
The various forms of government-republican
and monarchical forms-the Samgha or Gana
republics.
The popular assemblies in a monarchical form of
government-limits of the authority of the King.
The different degrees of the supremacy of the
King-the Emperor-the ordinary independent
ruler-the feudatories, etc.
The royal consecration and other royal festivals
and rituals.
Digitized by
Original from
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN