[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sarkar-1922) › c15.3 # The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c15.3 The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c15.3 - **Language:** English ### [c15.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sarkar-1922.c15.3) The seven categories, \*svâmin\* (sovereign), \*amâtya\* (minister), \*suṛhit\* (ally), \*koṣa\* (finance), \*râṣṭra\* (territory), \*durga\* (fortress), and \*vala\* (army) constitute the basis of all political speculation among Hindu philosophers. They form the \*saptâmga\*,¹ or the “seven limbs” of the body politic. The theory of the constitution is epitomized in the doctrine of \*saptâmga\*. An analysis of each of these seven constituents of a state, as well as their mutual relations, is the specific theme of all \*nîti-śâstras\*, from the \*Artha-śâstra\* of Kautilya to the \*Yukti-kalpa-taru\* of Bhoja. Necessarily subsumed under this fundamental investigation is the discussion of \*samaya\* (compact) as the origin of the state, \*dharma\* (\*droit\*, \*Recht\*, justice, law, duty, etc.) as the end of government, \*bali\* (offerings) as the \*rationale\* of taxation by the state for its services to the community, \*aparodha\* (expulsion of tyrant), \*maṇḍala\*, and other concepts of \*Staatswissenschaft\* in Sanskrit literature. - [Previous: c15.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sarkar-1922.c15.2) - [Next: c15.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sarkar-1922.c15.4) - [Up: c15](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sarkar-1922.c15) ## Cites (1) - [Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.artha.kautilya) — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sarkar-1922.c15.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sarkar-1922.c15.3) · Pramāṇa