Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c12.29

c12.29

In the time of the legal commentators, gaṇas as political institutions had long ceased to exist. But the commentators never fell into the error of taking them as 'tribes.' They treat them as artifical associations or assemblies, *e.g.*, take the view cited by Dr. Jolly in his translation of Nārada (S. B. E., xxxiii, p. 6, n.), "gaṇa, an assembly of co-habitants."³ Dr. Jolly, in fact, translates gaṇa in verse 7 of Nārada as 'assembly,' and *gaṇārtham* as 'on behalf of Society.' Though it is not strictly the technical sense of Nārada, yet it is very near the original sense and it follows the spirit.