Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.195

c7.195

Our contention that the *sabhā* was a "council" composed only of the important men of the tribe and not of all the heads of the families, as was the case in the political communities where the king was chosen by the *viś*, rests mainly on the frequent occurrences of words like *sabheya* (worthy of the *sabhā* or council), *sabhya* (member of the *sabhā*), *sabhāga* (one going to or into the *sabhā*), or *sabhācara* (one either going to or moving in the *sabhā*) and *sabhāvān* (a member of the *sabhā* or one worthy of the *sabhā*). Some references to the *sabhāsads*,¹ or those who sit at a council or are “assessors” in court, and to the *sabhāpati*,² the “president” of the *sabhā*, further enlighten us regarding the officers of the *sabhā*. The mention of the *sabhāsāha*,³ one superior or eminent in the *sabhā*, and of his friends taking pride in him, points either to his being a good debater or to his being elected to some office such as that of the *sabhāsad* or the *sabhāpati*.