[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.prasad-1928) › c10.71 # The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c10.71 The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c10.71 - **Language:** English ### [c10.71](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.prasad-1928.c10.71) Every king had a Purohita, who was his adviser in spiritual, and sometimes also, in temporal affairs. The very first king Mahâsammata had appointed a Brâhmaṇa’s son as family-priest (III, 454). Often, though not always, the office was hereditary and continued in the same family for generations (I, 437; II, 47; III, 392, 455, IV, 200). Once some Brâhmaṇas objected to the installation of a young son of the late Purohita. “For seven generations,” protested the mother of the boy, “the performance of elephant consecration (hatthimaṅgala) has been hereditary in our family; the old custom will pass out of our hands and our wealth will disappear” (II, 47; III, 400). Sometimes, of course, new men would be introduced (III, 194, 337). A king of Videha has four sages to instruct him in Dhamma (VI, 330). - [Previous: c10.70](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.prasad-1928.c10.70) - [Next: c10.72](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.prasad-1928.c10.72) - [Up: c10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.prasad-1928.c10) ## Cites (2) - [Jātakatthavaṇṇanā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.khuddaka.jataka!jatakatthavannana*cst.1.12.7.p1) — Pāli - [Jātaka](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.khuddaka.jataka) — Pāli --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.prasad-1928.c10.71](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.prasad-1928.c10.71) · Pramāṇa