[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.s2.5 # State and Government in Ancient India c19.s2.5 State and Government in Ancient India c19.s2.5 - **Language:** English ### [c19.s2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.s2.5) In the ancient period India regarded her law (\*dharma\*) as sacred in origin as did ancient Greece, but it was substantially based upon custom ; it cannot be described as institutionalisation of the selfish interests of the Brāhamaṇas and Kshatriyas. Dharma of ancient India was not consciously made by law-givers or by a ligislature ; it was generally enforced by social approval or the dread of hell and not by the force of the state. It was not static ; it however changed not by the arbitrary will of a king nor the noisy method of legislation but by the slow and prolonged process of change in social customs and practices. - [Previous: c19.s2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.s2.4) - [Next: c20.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c20.2) - [Up: c19.s2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.s2) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.s2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.s2.5) · Pramāṇa