State and Government in Ancient India c12.s9.5

c12.s9.5

The state in the pre-Vedic and early Vedic times was tribal and small, and a popular assembly used to function at the capital; so the king's powers were not extensive. In the course of time, when the state became territorial in character and extensive in size, the powers of the patriarchal barons like the *kulapatis* and *viśpatis* declined, as also those of the popular *samitis*, which could not meet frequently or regularly. These circumstances gradually tended to increase the powers and privileges of the king. Even in the *Rigveda* we have references to *ekarāṭs* (sole rulers), *adhirāṭs* (great rulers) and *samrāṭs* (emperors).¹ It is no doubt true that some of these epithets are applied to gods, but there can be no doubt that their counterparts existed on the earth as well.