Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c10.s4.44

c10.s4.44

Mahājanaka,¹ Sūdhina,² Vedeha,³ Suruci,⁴ etc. The fact that so many Videhan kings are mentioned supports the view that not only were the monarchs themselves called kings, but the members of the assembly governing the republic also called themselves *rājās*. Kauṭilya's communities living by the title of *rājā* also include the Videhas in the Vṛjikas.⁵ It is possible that some of these names of Videhan kings included the non-Aryan chiefs of the region before the arrival of Videgha. Moreover, the humorous remark of the *Lalitavistara*⁶ about the members of the Licchavian Assembly all being called *rājās* might be equally applicable to the Videhas.