Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c41.145

c41.145

The Pāli Sūtra (Kūṭadanta of the Dīgha Nikāya)⁴ which is regarded as almost contemporary in age with the Buddha's time, probably furnishes details of the composition of the Naigama or Paura and the Jānapada. The king invites the Kshatriyas who were 'Negama' or 'Jānapada' for the time-being (anuyuttā negamā cheva jānapadā cha) in the king's country (Rañño janapade), likewise those Negamas and Jānapadas who were officers and councillors (of the Paura and Jānapada), and, Negama and Jānapada Brahmins who possessed 'larger class of houses', and finally, gahapati Negamas and Jānapadas who were of the class of nechayikas. The gahapati class was composed of ordinary citizens—Vaiśyas and Śūdras, freemen cultivating their land or