History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.211.1

v4.c62.211.1

Hereditary monarchy was the norm of government in ancient and medieval India. Kauṭilya expressly states (I. 17 at end) that the practice to make the eldest son the king is honoured except in the case of a calamity. At or about the time of Buddha and a few centuries thereafter there were a few oligarchies or (as some scholars prefer to call them) republics. But our Dharmaśāstra or Arthaśāstra authorities contain rather very meagre references to them. The Mahābhārata in Śānti 107 furnishes the following data about gaṇarājyas (government by groups): Internal dissensions are the root of the ruin of *gaṇas*; it is very difficult to keep lines of policy secret when there are many (when the government is that of many, i. e. an oligarchy or a republic); all members of the gaṇa in their entirety do not deserve to hear the line of policy decided upon, but the chief persons among the gaṇas should meet together and arrange among themselves to secure the welfare of the whole gaṇa; if disputes that arise among the families (or clans) are connived at by the heads of the clan, the ruin of the clan takes place which leads on to dissensions among the whole group (gaṇa). Danger from internal dissensions must be guarded against (in the case of *gaṇarājya*), external dangers are not serious (in the case of gaṇarājya). All members of the gaṇa are equal by birth and family, but they are not equal in energy, intelligence, bodily appearance and wealth.