[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) › c7.331 # Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.331 Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.331 - **Language:** English ### [c7.331](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.331) This verse unmistakably shows that the ruling nobles met in the assembly and were collectively called \*rājās\*. It does not necessarily mean that all those gathered in the assembly were called \*rājās\*; all the members of the \*samiti\* were designated as \*sāmityas\*.² Apart from this verse, the word \*rājan\* occurs at least four times in the hymn and significantly the word \*viś\* is not mentioned here at all. This indicates clearly that the \*samiti\* had crystallized as a political institution from the \*viś\* of the popular monarchies in the communities where the \*samiti\* and the "nobles" exercised the supreme power and formed a special type of non-monarchical government. - [Previous: c7.330](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.330) - [Next: c7.332](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.332) - [Up: c7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.331](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.331) · Pramāṇa