Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c9.s10.154

c9.s10.154

Another check was supplied by the general body of the people (*Jana*, *Mahājana*) who were distinct from the ministers and *Grāmaṇīs*, or *Grāmikas*, and who used to meet in an assembly styled **Samiti** or **Parishad** in the *Upanishads*.³ In the *Utkrośana* passage of the *Aitareya Brāhmaṇa*⁴ the people (*Janāḥ*) are clearly distinguished from the *Rājakartāraḥ* among whom, according to the *Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa*⁵ were included the *Sūta* and the *Grāmaṇī*.⁶ That the *Samiti* or *Parishad* was an assembly of the whole people, is apparent from such expressions as "*bhūyishṭhāḥ Kuru-Pañchālāssāgatā bhavitāraḥ*...",⁷ "*Pañchālānāṁ Samitiṁ eyāya*", "*Pañchālānāṁ Parishadaṁ ājagāma*," "*samaggā Sīvayo hutvā*". The *Chhāndogya Upanishad*⁸ mentions the *Samiti* of the Pañchāla people presided over by king Pravāhaṇa Jaivali, Śvetaketuṁ