Pre-Buddhist India: A Political, Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey of Ancient India Based Mainly on the Jataka Stories c4.t5.6

c4.t5.6

First of all, there is no clear evidence in the stories as to the composition and constitution of the administrative council or assembly—corresponding to the *mantripariṣad* of Kauṭilya, let alone the Vedic *samiti*; that a council did exist during this period, there cannot and should not be any doubt in the face of overwhelming evidence gleaned from the *Dharma Sūtras* and other literary works dealing with politics, the *Arthaśāstra*, the *Aśoka* Inscriptions and the notices of Megasthenes and other foreign writers—all covering a period not very far from that which is covered by the stories.