[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) › c7.178 # Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.178 Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.178 - **Language:** English ### [c7.178](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.178) This conclusion is further confirmed by a close examination of the Atharvan hymns. In the \*Atharva Veda\*, there are altogether seventeen mentions of the \*sabhā\*,⁶ of which in at least five hymns the \*samiti\* does not figure at all,⁷ whereas in two hymns the \*sabhā\*⁸ and the \*samiti\*⁹ both occur, but in different verses. We believe that at least the five hymns in which \*sabhā\* alone appears refer to the \*sabhā\*-ruled governments of the Vedic period. Those passages in which \*sabhā\* and \*samiti\* both occur we interpret as referring to another variety of non-monarchical political community, where both the \*sabhā\*, the council, and the \*samiti\*, the assembly, ruled. This type of constitution we shall consider in the next section. - [Previous: c7.177](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.177) - [Next: c7.179](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.179) - [Up: c7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.178](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.178) · Pramāṇa