State and Government in Ancient India c13.25

c13.25

In course of time, political power became more broadbased in the republics. The *Amarakośa* distinguishes between two types of the Kshatriya republic ; *Rājanyaka-gaṇa* or republic was one where power was vested in the descendants of the original founder-families enjoying the title of the *rājā* ; whereas *rājaka-gaṇa* or republic was one where it was vested in all the Kshatriya families, whether descended from the original founders or not.⁴ We can therefore well understand how the Śāntiparvan in one place describes the members of a republic as equal to one another in their caste and family status.⁵