Hindu Administrative Institutions c8.s4.18

c8.s4.18

Though we have no direct evidence as to the actual working of the *sabha* still the fact remains that it was presided over in its session by the *sabhāpati*, and it was guarded by a *sabhāpala*. Originally the *sabhā* was more a court of justice where the king heard and decided cases and disputes. This is obvious from the occurrence of the terms *sabhācara*³ and *sabhāsad*, sitter in the assembly.⁴ The Vedic *Sabha* was more of a legislative and judicial character. It is said in the *Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa*⁵ and also in the *Chandogya Upaniṣad*⁶ that the king went to the *sabhā* as well as the *samiti* possibly to guide its deliberations. The authors of the Vedic Index seem to read in these passages an interpretation that will nullify the statement of Zimmer,⁷ namely, that the *sabhā* was the meeting place of the village council with the *Grāmaṇi* as its president. Zimmer is not altogether wrong as Professors Macdonell and Keith suppose. In those days when local self-government was the rule and not the exception it was but right that the village had its own *sabhā*. We must not confuse ourselves with the word *sabhā*. There were *sabhās* in towns as well as in villages. But their powers were different. One was the larger assembly which concerned itself with the general affairs of the state in particular and the other took notice of local matters only.