India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c12.s5.12

c12.s5.12

PARTY SYSTEM—Pāṇini refers to *dvandva* denoting two rival parties, and to *vyutkramaṇa* denoting their rivalry for power (VIII.1.15). The *Kāśikā* explains it as the division of members into parties sitting separately in the House (*dvivarga-sambandhena pṛithagavasthitā dvandvaṁ vyutkrāntā ityuchyante*, VIII.1.15). There were three terms to denote a party-member, viz. (1) *vargya*, (IV.3.54), (2) *gṛihya*, and (3) *pakshya* (III.1.119). *Vagga* as a technical term of the Saṁgha vocabulary had the same Pāṇinian meaning and denoted a party, as shown by the Buddha's teaching (*sukhā saṁghassa sāmaggi ...neva Bhikkave vaggena saṁgha-kammaṁ kātavyaṁ* (*Mahāvagga*). The Party was named after its Leader (*Vargyādayaścha*, VI.2.131), e.g. *Vāsudeva-vargya*, *Vāsudeva-pakshya*, *Arjuna-vargya*, *Arjuna-pakshya*. Division of members out of allegiance to their respective parties was termed *vyāśraya* (V.4.48; *nānā-paksha-samāśraya*). This was indicated by a special linguistic formation, *i.e.* *Devā Arjunato'bhavan*, 'the Devas ranged themselves on the side of Arjuna' and *Ādityāḥ Karṇato'bhavan*, 'the Ādityas ranged themselves on the side of Karṇa'. The existence of party-system in the working of the *Gaṇas* is especially mentioned in the case of the Andhaka-Vṛishṇi *Saṁgha* (IV.2.34). Patañjali in commenting on Kātyāyana IV.2.104.11 mentions the party of Vāsudeva and that of Akrūra.