Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c40.14

c40.14

§ 248. In the period of large monarchies or empires, country became more important than the nation (*viśes* or *jana*). In fact, the term *janapada*, which literally and originally meant 'the seat of the nation' and which had been secondarily employed as denoting the nation itself, lost its old significance, and came to mean what we call to-day country' without reference to the racial elements inhabiting it. In the period of large monarchies we never hear of the Samiti. This, of course, is natural. The basis of the Samiti was the national unit, and the national unit now ceased to be a factor in matters constitutional.