India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c13.s1.t1.7

c13.s1.t1.7

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT—The Janapada states in India had different systems of government just as the city-states in Greece. Pāṇini refers to several of them, e.g. *Gaṇa* or *Saṅgha*, *Avayavas* (IV.1.71) or member states of a Union, Leagues or Confederacies as in the case of *Trigarta-Shashṭha* (V.3.116), *Rājanyas* (VI.2.34), *Dvandva* or *Vyutkramaṇa* (VIII.1.15) *i.e.*, Party System, *Janapadins*, *Abhishikta-Vaṁśya Kshatriyas*, *Pūga*, *Śreṇi*, *Grāmaṇī*, *Vrātās*, *Kumāra-Pūga*, (VI.2.88), *Parishadvala Rājā* (V.2.112), *Saṁdhi-miśra Rājā* (VI.2.154), *Āyudhajīvins* and *Parvatīyas* (V.3.91; IV.2.143), etc. The political significance of these terms has been explained in their proper places. Just as bands of mercenary armed soldiers existed in many *Āyudhajīvī Saṅghas*, similarly they existed in Greece and many were enlisted in Alexander's army recruited from the Greek cities and the highlands in Thrace. The code of honour with these fighters also offers scope for comparative study.