[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924) › c51.3 # Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c51.3 Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c51.3 - **Language:** English ### [c51.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c51.3) ¹ The \*Rājya\* is qualified with \*pārameshṭhya\*, apparently to distinguish it as \*the rājya\*, the \*rājya\* superior, \*i.e.\*, monarchy: "सर्वेषां राज्ञां श्रेष्ठा अतिष्ठां परमतां गच्छे यम्. It is also possible that \*Pārameshṭhya\* was some sort of distinct monarchical constitution (cf. राजानं राजपितरं परमेष्ठिनं पारमेष्ठ्यम्. Aitareya Br. VIII. 12). I remember having seen a passage in the Mahā-Bhārata where some king is styled \*Parameshṭhin\*. The rare \*Svāvalya\* (VIII. 12) if technical, was probably a reminiscence of the discredited 'autocracy' which the oath in the Mahā-Bhārata specifically excludes from Hindu kingship. - [Previous: c51.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c51.2) - [Next: c51.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c51.4) - [Up: c51](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c51) ## Cites (2) - [Aitareyabrāhmaṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.brahmana.aitreya.8.12) — Mahidāsa Aitareya, Sanskrit - [Mahābhārata](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c51.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c51.3) · Pramāṇa