Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.297

c7.297

This hymn is addressed to *Virāj*, the personification of power and sovereignty.³ The opening words clearly point to this interpretation: "*Virāj* verily was this [universe]; of her when born everything was afraid . . .".⁴ The following verses indicate the growth of civilization through family life and sacrifice to the gods, and then the *sabhā* and *samiti* are mentioned. This hymn seems to reveal that the composers did not know of any other form of government. The hymn is equally important in showing that there was no king in this type of constitution. Here again the *sabhā* and the *sabhya* have precedence over the *samiti* and the *sāmitya*.