Public Administration in Ancient India c14.16

c14.16

The ‘Siṣṭas,’ according to Bodhāyana, are persons “who are free from envy, free from pride, contented with a store of grain sufficient for ten days, free from covetousness, and free from hypocrisy, arrogance, greed, perplexity, and anger.” “(Those are called) Siṣṭas,” adds Bodhāyana, “who, in accordance with the sacred law, have studied the Veda together with its appendages, who know how to draw inferences from that, (and) who are able to adduce proofs perceptible by the senses from revealed texts.”¹ Siṣṭas in Bodhāyana’s opinion were to be chiefly found in Āryāvarta, and, therefore, the rule of conduct which prevailed in that country was to be held authoritative. Manu gives a slightly different definition of the term. According to him, the custom handed down in regular succession (since time immemorial) among the (four chief) castes and the mixed races of the country called Brahmāvarta was regarded as the conduct of virtuous men, and the custom of Brāhmaṇas in the country of Brahmarshi ranked next in importance.