Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c25.21

c25.21

§ 134. The Gāndhāras had already separated before Alexander's time from Takshaśilā, its former Capital. In 326 B.C. they were monarchical. Young Porus, a nephew to the great Porus, was their king. But the question of the constitution of the Gāndhāras does not arise, although we have evidence of their being republican about 200 B.C.¹ In Section XIII of the Rock Proclamations in place of the Gāndhāras 'the *Nābhaka* and the *Nābha-paṅktis*' have been substituted. These were either neighbours of the Gāndhāras or some sub-divisions thereof. The *Nābhapaṅktis* ('Nābha-lines') were like the *Agraśreṇis*, and the Three Yaudheyas or Three Śālaṅkāyanas, *i.e.*, a league of the Nābhas. In one edition of Aśoka's inscriptions they are called *Nābhitina* which may mean the Three-Nābhas.