The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c17.144

v1.c17.144

At the royal consecration the *entourage* of the king played an important part. The list of Ratnins, ‘jewels,’ given by the Taittirīya texts, consists of the Brāhman, i.e. the Purohita, the Rājanya, the Mahishī, the first wife of the four allowed to the king by custom, the Vāvātā, ‘favourite wife,’ the Parivṛiktī, ‘discarded wife,’ the Sūta, ‘charioteer,’ the Senānī, ‘commander of the army,’