History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c46.123.1

v3.c46.123.1

The words '*sabhā*' (*Ṛg.* X. 34. 6) and '*samiti*' (Ṛg. X. 97.6) occur even in the Ṛgveda but their exact significance is doubtful and the former word at least seems to bear the sense of 'gambling hall' in some passages. In the Upaniṣads, however, the words *samiti* and *pariṣad* assume a more definite sense, meaning 'an assembly of learned men in a particular locality'. The Chān. Up. V. 3. 1 states that Śvetaketu Āruṇeya ²²⁰² repaired to the assembly (*samiti*) of the Pañcālas (where Pravāhaṇa Jaivali put him five questions of a metaphysical and esoteric nature). The Bṛ. Up. VI. 2. 1 when narrating the same episode employs the word '*pariṣad*'. These passages establish that in the times of the Upaniṣads there were assemblies of learned men where intricate questions were discussed. Gaut. 28. 46 prescribes just as the Tai. Up. I. 11 does that in matters about which there is no certain rule (or there is doubt) one should do what is commended by respectable persons not less than ten in number, who are clever in discussion and are above covetousness.²²⁰³ The Āp. Dh. S. I. 3. 11. 34 declares that holidays other than those stated by him may be observed as settled by pariṣads. The Baud. Dh. S. II. 1.