Public Administration in Ancient India c14.23

c14.23

If direct legislation was impossible in early times, indirect methods were available. Law could not be made, but it could be declared. In the Brihadāraṇyaka, Law is thus defined: “Law is what is called the true. And if a man declares what is true, they say he declares the law; and if he declares the law, they say he declares what is true.”¹ For the declaration of the law in doubtful cases, a duly authorised body of persons was needed. Such a body was a *Parishat* (or parshat) composed of learned Brāhmans. A Parishat was properly constituted when there were present in the assembly ten Brāhmanas, learned in the Vedas, skilled in reasoning, and free from covetousness.² Bodhāyana quotes the following verse: “Four men, who each know one of the four Vedas, a Mīmāmsaka, one who knows the Angas, one who recites the sacred law, and three Brāhmanas belonging to (three different) orders, (constitute) an assembly consisting, at least, of ten members.”¹ Such an ideal assembly was, however, not always easy to get together, and very often three or four Brāhmanas were held sufficient to constitute an assembly, if they were persons who commanded the respect and confidence of the people. Vasishtha says: “What four or (even) three (Brāhmanas) who have completely studied the Vedas proclaim, that must be distinctly recognised as the sacred law, not (the decision) of a thousand fools.”² Sometimes, even the opinions of single individuals of pre-eminent virtue and wisdom had the same weight as the decision of Parishats. In regard to the decision of one individual, however, Bodhāyana gives this wise advice: “Narrow and difficult to find is the path of the sacred law, towards which many gates lead. Hence if there is a doubt, it must not be propounded by one man only, however learned he may be.”³