[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) › c7.254 # Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.254 Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.254 - **Language:** English ### [c7.254](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.254) The \*sabhāpati\*, or the president of the council, is referred to both in the \*Vājasaneyī\* and the \*Taittirīya Saṁhitās\*,⁸ but we do not know for how long he was appointed. The pride shown by the friends of a debater might indicate a successful candidate for the presidency: "All friends rejoice in the friend who comes in triumph having conquered in the council."⁹ "He is their blame-averter, foodprovider, prepared is he and fit for deeds of vigour.”¹ This may well refer to a successful candidate for the presidency, but it seems more probable that he was often successful in debates and was a good orator. Probably all the important members of the council, the assessors (\*sabhāsads\*) and the president (\*sabhāpati\*) held their offices for life. They decided upon questions of war and peace, they administered justice, and they performed religious rites on behalf of the political community. - [Previous: c7.253](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.253) - [Next: c7.255](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.255) - [Up: c7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.254](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.254) · Pramāṇa