[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C.](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968) › c12.s2.1 # Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c12.s2.1 Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c12.s2.1 - **Language:** English ### [c12.s2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c12.s2.1) They are referred to as Mallas in the Pāli texts¹ and Mallaī in the Jaina Prākrit books.² The Sanskrit Jaina commentator Jinaprabhamuni also mentions them as Mallas,³ whereas Kauṭilya refers to them as Mallakas.⁴ The word \*Malla\* also figures in the Sanskrit, Pāli and Prākrit lexicons in the sense of a "professional wrestler," apart from being the name of this tribe. On this point B. C. Law comments that "it is probable that the word 'Malla' denoting a professional wrestler was derived from the tribal name of this people".⁵ This is a fair judgement. - [Previous: c12.s1.20](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c12.s1.20) - [Next: c12.s2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c12.s2.2) - [Up: c12.s2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c12.s2) ## Cites (1) - [Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.artha.kautilya) — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c12.s2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c12.s2.1) · Pramāṇa