Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c14.45

c14.45

³ Ambaṭṭha Suttanta, translated in "Dialogues of the Buddha," I. 113. [I may quote the passage—"Once, Gotama, I had to go to Kapilavatthu on some business or other of Pokkharasādi's, and went into the Sākyas's Congress Hall. Now at that time there were a number of Sākyas, old and young, seated in the hall on grand seats." The *Lalita-vistara*, mentioning similar sessions of the Sākyas, 'has the Sākya-gaņa in session' :—सर्व्वे शाक्यगणे सन्निपतौय भीमांमंते राजा शुद्धोदन......शाक्यगणेन सार्ध संथागारे निषण्णोऽभूत् (XII. p. 115 Bib. Ind. ed.) The *S'ākya-gaņa* probably had 500 members (XII). The significance of "Old and Young" members probably is that the Elders and ordinary members were both present.]