[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) › c14.78 # Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c14.78 Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c14.78 - **Language:** English ### [c14.78](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c14.78) On the evidence of the \*Kuṇāla Jātaka\* all the members of the Koliyan assembly, like that of the Sakyan, were called \*rājās\* and sometimes even \*mahārājās\*. It may be that when the Buddha intervened in the feud which was imminent between the Koliyas and the Sakyas, and addressed them as \*mahārājās\*, he meant only the two chiefs of the Koliyas and the Sakyas who were then heads of their respective republics. When the Buddha arrived on the scene, all the kings (\*rājāno\*) greeted him, and when he started addressing them he questioned the \*mahārājās\*, probably implying the two chiefs. In the end, when the Buddha had settled the dispute by showing the futility of shedding precious blood, it was the \*rājāno\*, probably meaning the entire assembly members of both peoples, who were pleased with the compromise.³ There is no corroboratory evidence to strengthen our view, but this seems likely from a close analysis of the \*Jātaka\* text. - [Previous: c14.77](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c14.77) - [Next: c14.79](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c14.79) - [Up: c14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c14) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c14.78](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c14.78) · Pramāṇa