State and Government in Ancient India c14.s1.28

c14.s1.28

Let us now examine Jayaswal’s views about the constitutional powers of the so-called Paura-Jānapada Assembly. His contention that it had the power to nominate the heir-apparent is based upon the casual reference to the citizens in the *Rāmāyaṇa* in connection with Rāma’s selection as heir-apparent. But the epic expressly states that the selection was made by the king in consultation only with his ministers.⁴ The view that Pauras were consulted is based upon the wrong translation of the word *āmantra*, which means ‘to bid farewell’