[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) › c7.310 # Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.310 Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.310 - **Language:** English ### [c7.310](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.310) There are a number of passages in the Vedic literature where the word \*rājan\* occurs in the plural and has the connotation of "nobles" or "chiefs" rather than kings.³ Moreover, there are some mentions of the "nobles" in relation to the \*samiti\*, while the \*samiti\* sometimes figures independently of the \*sabhā\*, mainly in the \*Atharva Veda\* where it is only connected with the \*sabhā\* in four hymns.⁴ Thus, the independent occurrences of the word \*samiti\* in the Vedic literature and its relation with the \*rājās\*, or "nobles", give evidence of a different type of non-monarchical constitution. - [Previous: c7.309](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.309) - [Next: c7.311](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.311) - [Up: c7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.310](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.310) · Pramāṇa