Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c13.18

c13.18

Pāṇini calls these Saṁghas *āyudhajīvinaḥ*. Kauṭilya has in its place *Śastropajīvinaḥ*. Now, what is the meaning of this? The first impression will be to interpret it as 'those who live by the profession of arms,' as I took it myself in my essay in the *Modern Review*. But this meaning is not maintainable for two reasons. The Artha Śāstra contrasts the Śastropajīvin Saṁghas with Rājaśabdopajīvin Saṁghas, which means, according to Kauṭilya's further discussion (p. 377)¹ the Saṁghas whose rulers assume the 'title' (*śabda*) of *rājan*. We know from inscriptions, coins and literature that elected or appointed rulers in some Indian republics did assume that title.² Now, here 'upajīvin' cannot mean 'living by,' as a republic cannot *live* by the title *rājā*. The meaning which would suit both classes of Kauṭilya's republics is the other known meaning of the verb *upajīv*, 'to observe' *e.g.*, in Manu, X. 74, where a Brahmin is asked to *upajīv* the six duties, which include making gifts.³ Upajīvin in that sense explains that the Saṁghas called 'Śastropajīvins' *observed* the practice of arms or military art, and that the Saṁghas called 'Rājaśabdopajīvins' *observed* the practice of assuming the title rājān. In other words, their respective constitutions enjoined on the members to be skilled in military art in the former, and on the rulers or every privileged member to bear the title in the latter (§ 59).