[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Hindu Administrative Institutions](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929) › c8.s2.32 # Hindu Administrative Institutions c8.s2.32 Hindu Administrative Institutions c8.s2.32 - **Language:** English ### [c8.s2.32](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c8.s2.32) It is a correct estimation of Prof. A. B. Keith who remarks: ‘The Vedic purohita was the forerunner of the Brahman statesmen who from time to time in India have shown conspicuous ability in the management of affairs and there is no reason to doubt that a Viśvāmitra or Vasiṣṭha was a more important element of Government of the early Vedic realm. It is clear too from the hymns which are attributed to the families of these sages that the purohita accompanied the king to battle and seconded his efforts for victory by his prayers and spells. In return for his faithful service the rewards of the purohita were doubtlessly large. The dāna-stutis of the Rig Veda tell of generous gifts of patrons to the poets and we may safely assume that the largest donations were those of kings to the \*purohita\*.¹ Our own view is that from the earliest known literature, the \*Rig Veda Samhita\*, down to the later treatises on the \*Arthaśāstra\*, the \*purohita\* maintained one and the same position in the state, at least in every Kṣatriya-ruled state. - [Previous: c8.s2.31](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c8.s2.31) - [Next: c8.s2.33](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c8.s2.33) - [Up: c8.s2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c8.s2) ## Linked texts (2) - [Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.artha.kautilya) — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit - [Ṛgvedasaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.samhita.rg) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c8.s2.32](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c8.s2.32) · Pramāṇa