Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c13.s2.99

c13.s2.99

All the passages quoted above indicate that the Sakyas had an assembly which probably consisted of the heads of families⁶ of Kṣatriyas of the Gautama *gotra*. Some scholars have taken the statement of the *Dīgha Nikāya*, that "in the Sākya Parliament both young and old assembled," without any serious consideration.⁷ No doubt the text puts these words in the mouth of the Brāhmaṇa Ambaṭṭha, but this refers to a gathering of the Sakyas in its social aspect. However, the session of the assembly which discussed King Pasenadi's proposal was political in implication. In fact, the *santhāgāra* was the general centre of the republic where, apart from political and public business, social and religious functions were also conducted.⁸ It appears that the *uparājās* were the eldest sons of the Sakyan *rājās* of the assembly and were expected to take their places upon the death of their fathers, but we have no positive evidence as to their being real members of the assembly in their own right. We have considered the question of the 7,707 Licchavi *uparājās*,¹ and we believe that the case with the Sakyan *uparājās* was no different.