India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c12.s6.63

c12.s6.63

(4) *Andhaka-Vṛishṇi* (VI.2.34). The Purāṇas make them identical with the Sātvatas whom Pāṇini mentions as a *Saṅgha* in the *Gaṇa-pāṭha*. The *Mahābhārata* refers to them as a *Saṅgha* and so does Kauṭilya. Pāṇini refers to Rājanya leaders amongst the Andhaka-Vṛishṇis, which as explained by the *Kāśikā* denoted members of such families as were entitled to be consecrated to rulership (*abhishikta-vaṁśya*). The chief feature of the Andhaka-Vṛishṇi constitution appears to be a full-fledged party system. The party of Akrūra and that of Vāsudeva are referred to by Patañjali showing that the followers of each leader were designated in accordance with their respectve party leaders, *e.g.* *Akrūra-vargya*, *Akrūra-vargīṇa*, and *Vāsudeva-vargya*, *Vāsudeva-vargīṇa* (II.295).