Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c17.24

c17.24

§ 88. We have concluded this brief constitutional survey of these Republics. But let us not part with this chapter of our republican polity without a few words on their general culture. Philostratus in the *Life of Appollonius of Tyana* gives the information that the *Sophoi* of Alexander were the Oxydracae and that in the time of Appollonius (about 40 A. C.) they were regarded as 'rather dabblers in philosophy than philosophers.' It seems that the Kshudrakas in Alexander's time were noted for their philosophic wisdom and were called the wise (Sophai). Similarly the Kaṭhas are famous in Indian literature for their Upanishadic philosophy and Vedic learning. They were followers of the Krishna Yajurveda, their edition of that Veda, the Kāṭhaka Saṃhitā, has come down to our times. In Patañjali's time, the Kaṭha recension was the ruling authority, it was recited in every town as he says in his Mahābhāshya.¹ Their law-book, the Kāṭhaka-dharma-sūtra, was also well-known, and is believed to have been the basis of the Vishṇu-smṛiti. Their name in Hindu literature will live as long as the Upanishads live and the Yajurveda lives. Likewise the philosophy of the Vṛishṇi leader and that of his cousin Nemi are national beliefs to the present day. The Śākyas, although they ceased to exist by the fourth century B.C., had bequeathed the greatest religion to the world. Free constitutions seem to have given rise to free philosophies. Philosophy, politics and military training did not combine to develop a non-human type of humanity. The republics were noted for their love of music. Arrian (VI. 3) calls these Indians whom Alexander met, 'lovers of dance and song.'² The musical propensities of the Vṛishṇis are a familiar feature in Sanskrit literature. The Harivaṁśa describes their ball and picnic (Chs. 146—7).³