Public Administration in Ancient India c10.6

c10.6

In the Vedic times, Kingship seems often to have been elective.³ The following hymn of the Rig-Veda suggests the elective character of Kingship in the early ages: “I have brought thee forward; remain in the midst; may all thy subjects desire thee! May thy dominion never fall away from thee! . . . And may Indra make the subjects devoted to thee alone and bringers of tribute.”¹ Hymn III. 4, of the Atharva-Veda is more explicit. “Let the people (viśaḥ) choose unto Kingship (Rājya) thee these five divine directions; rest at the summit of royalty, at the pinnacle (kakud); from thence formidable, share out good things to us.”² Another hymn of the Atharva-Veda runs thus: “Like a human Indra, go thou away; for thou hast concurred in accord with the castes.”³