Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.356

c7.356

This is a hymn which a Brāhmaṇa utters after losing his cow. The word *rājan* occurs twice in the hymn, in one instance with reference to Varuṇa. The verse seems to imply that the *samiti* favoured those nobles who did not trouble the Brāhmaṇas, thus indicating growing Brāhmaṇic influence and the power of the *samiti* in the political community. The relation of the “nobles” and the *samiti* is significant and supports our view of a new form of non-monarchical government. The word *viś* does not occur in this hymn, but *rāṣṭra*, “country,” does. It suggests that this form of government might have had a territorial sense and controlled a larger territory and greater population.¹