The Positive Background of Hindu Sociology c9.s4.6

c9.s4.6

The diverse regional values of the Vedic texts must not be overlooked. The territory is divided into four regions, North, South, East and West, in the *Atharva Veda Samhitā* (III, 27, XII, 3), the *Yajurveda Samhitā* (*Taittirīya* IV, 4, 12, 2) and the *Vājasaneyī Samhitā* (XV, 10-14). According to the *Aitareya Brāhmaṇa* (VIII, 14) of the *Rig Veda Samhitā* the "midland" (*madhyadeśa*) knows only of *rājyas* (lesser political organisms) whereas the East is used to *sāmrājyas* (larger statal entities, e.g., "empires"). The rulers in Eastern India are accordingly known as *Samrāṭs*. In these Eastern *Samrāṭs* of the *Aitareya Brāhmaṇa* one may easily see the counterparts of Janaka of Mithilā (North Bihar) who is known as *Samrāṭ* in the *Brihadāraṇyaka Upaniṣat* (IV, 1) of the *Yajurveda*. Jarāsandha of Rājagriha (South Bihar) whom the *Mahābhārata* (III, 14, 9-10) describes as the "great sovereign and master" can be regarded as another exemplar for the *Aitareya* authors.¹³