[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) › c7.176 # Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.176 Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.176 - **Language:** English ### [c7.176](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.176) The word \*samiti\* does occur in the \*Ṛg Veda\*, but only in the first, ninth and tenth \*maṇḍalas\* which are accepted by almost all Indologists as compositions of a slightly later period than the "family \*maṇḍalas\*" (Books ii-vii).⁵ It is indeed noteworthy that, even in these \*maṇḍalas\* where both the \*sabhā\* and the \*samiti\* occur, not once do they figure together in the same hymn, let alone in the same verse. This analysis of the Ṛg Vedic hymns indicates that the political communities which had \*sabhās\* had no \*samitis\*, at least during the Ṛg Vedic period. Moreover, it is significant that the \*sabhā\*-ruled tribes appear, in point of time, to have been a little earlier than those where the \*samiti\* existed. - [Previous: c7.175](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.175) - [Next: c7.177](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.177) - [Up: c7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.176](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.176) · Pramāṇa