[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [State and Government in Ancient India](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949) › c19.s2.1 # State and Government in Ancient India c19.s2.1 State and Government in Ancient India c19.s2.1 - **Language:** English ### [c19.s2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.s2.1) The law courts in ancient India, whether official or unofficial, were administering the law. Let us see what was its source and nature. The Sanskrit word used for law, Dharma, has very wide connotation. It includes religious and ritualistic law as well as rules of morality and prudence. These were not usually enforced by the law courts in India. Dharma, for instance, required a householder to keep Agnihotra and to lead a pious life. Law courts did not move in the matter, if somebody did not follow the rules in these matters. Laws in ancient India were for a long time preserved only in tradition; they are expressly described by the Dharmaśāstra as customary rules, \*sāmayāchārika dharmas\*, or rules based upon conventions. Such of these rules as pertained to family and social life and personal laws, and created civil and criminal rights, were enforceable in law courts. \*Varṇāśrama\* rules and rules of personal and family law originally based upon custom were later embodied in Smṛitis. This made them a little inflexible for sometime. Society however was naturally changing and it saw to it that ancient but obsolete rules were replaced by current and acceptable ones embodied in new Smṛitis. - [Previous: c19.s1.52](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.s1.52) - [Next: c19.s2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.s2.2) - [Up: c19.s2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.s2) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.s2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.s2.1) · Pramāṇa