The Mauryan Polity c8.s2.t2: Procedure

The Mauryan Polity c8.s2.t2

Language: English

Procedure

c8.s2.t2.1

The terms *buddhivṛddhāḥ*, *bhūyiṣṭāḥ*, *śrotriyaḥ* indicate that the best and wise men were always chosen to these representative bodies. These were returned unanimously. There was no system of voting, though some scholars would even extend the principle of voting. It may be granted, however, that there was a kind of voting in the meetings of the assembly, the voting even here ultimately reducing itself to unanimous resolutions. The term *patrasampreṣaṇa*,¹ used in connection with the absentee members of the *pariṣad* may well permit us to infer that some kind of writ was in use. Again whenever there was occasion for the mention of a spokesman (*mukhya*, *śreṣṭin*) it was mentioned.² Under these circumstances to characterise these assemblies as mere crowds of the inhabitants of the city and from the village parts is positively meaningless.

c8.s2.t2.2

¹ Bk. I, ch. 15.

c8.s2.t2.3

² See Mhb., XV, ch. 8-10, (Trans. by Dutt).

Linked texts (2)

Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit
Mahābhārata — Vyāsa, Sanskrit