Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c12.s3.37

c12.s3.37

The *Majjhima Nikāya*,⁴ *Arthaśāstra* ⁵ and other texts clearly show that the Mallas had a *saṅgha* or a republican form of government. Buddhaghosa also comments that the chief Mallas administered the state in turn and those who were free from such duties engaged in trade, sometimes undertaking long caravan journeys.⁶ The *Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra* also records the Buddha's enumeration of different assemblies, while in the Malla territory, and a specific reference occurs to *Khattiya-parisam* (*Kṣatriya-pariṣadaṁ*).⁷