Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.531

c7.531

On the authority of Oldenberg,⁶ Sharma says that the *vidatha* distributed amongst its members whatever they procured as food, because in one hymn members are summoned in the *vidatha* on the occasion of the distribution of whatever is produced daily by Savitar,⁷ and because Agni is described as the liberal distributor of produce in the *vidatha*. He points out that in this respect the *vidatha* stood in sharp contrast to the *sabhā* and the *samiti*.¹ The distribution of produce by Savitar and Agni's being called a liberal distributor do not prove that the *vidatha* performed such a function. We have shown above that the *sabhā* and *samiti* are alluded to as distributing the spoils of war amongst their members.²