Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.222

c7.222

The word *sabhāvatī*, a derivative of *sabhā*, occurs in a Ṛg Vedic hymn.² Professor R. S. Sharma has taken it as an adjective of *yoṣā* (woman), implying that she was a member of the *sabhā*. Dr. Sharma comments that “in the *Ṛg Veda* there is only one reference indicating the connection of woman with the *sabhā*. She is described as worthy of going to the *sabhā*.”³ He further comments that “there is nothing to show that she was connected with the *samiti*. Even in respect of the *sabhā*, it can be inferred from the *Maitrāyaṇī Saṁhitā* that she ceased to attend it in later times.”⁴ The line in the Ṛg Vedic verse containing the term *sabhāvatī*, which Professor Sharma interprets as the woman being “worthy of going to the *sabhā*” and that “the *yoshā* went to the *vidatha*”, is as follows: *guhā carantī manuṣo na yoṣā sabhāvatī vidathyeva saṁ vāk*.⁵ Geldner translates it as “*heimlich mitkommend wie eines Menschen Weib*,⁶ *von einem Zuhörerkreis*⁷ *umgeben wie die gelehrte Rede*.”⁸ Sāyaṇa takes the word *sabhāvatī* to mean “worthy” and as qualifying the word *vāk* (speech), not *yoṣā*,⁹ while Griffith takes it to mean “eloquent” referring to speech (*vāk*). None of these scholars have taken *sabhāvatī* as an adjective of the woman (*yoṣā*) of the preceding *pāda*, but interpret it to mean “learned,” “worthy” or “eloquent”, qualifying the abstract noun “speech” (*vāk*).¹⁰ The context of the verse clearly indicates that by a simile Rodasī, Lightning personified,¹ is here described as being “like a young woman or bride of a man going out secretly [with another man]; like courtly or refined speech in the congregation.” Our rendering is encouraged by the interpretations of earlier Indologists, and confirmed by our consultations with Sanskritists. Thus, we find no evidence to contradict the conclusion that in this verse the term *sabhāvatī* does not refer to the woman being eligible for the *sabhā*, but simply alludes to refined or learned speech probably corresponding somewhat to the British constitutional phrase, the “parliamentary language,” implying language suitable to be employed in the *sabhā*.