Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.327

c7.327

Noteworthy points to be gathered from the above quotations are that the word *rājan* here occurs in the plural, presumably signifying a college of rulers or nobles; in the *Ṛg Veda* it occurs in this sense at least six times and in each case in the first and the tenth *maṇḍalas* in which *samiti* also occurs. In later texts the word becomes synonymous with the *rājanya* or *kṣatriya*, the ruling class and there is a constant emphasis on the people's trying to endear themselves to their noble rulers.