[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) › c7.536 # Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.536 Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.536 - **Language:** English ### [c7.536](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.536) Sharma further says that the main military function of the \*vidatha\* may have been to "conduct the tribal war against hostile tribes."³ Altekar rightly criticizes this view which, he says, "is untenable, nor did it (the \*vidatha\*) do every distributive work".⁴ The passage that Sharma cites in support of the military function of the \*vidatha\* is not conclusive. The passage in question is \*bṛhad vadema vidathe suvīrāḥ\*,⁵ which Sharma translates as "with brave sons (or heroes) in the assembly (\*vidatha\*) may we speak aloud"; closely following Griffith, who also takes \*suvīrāḥ\* to mean "brave men."⁶ On the other hand, Geldner translates the \*pāda\* as "\*wir möchten das grosse Wort führen als Meister in der weisen Rede.\*"⁷ Geldner emphasizes the point of wisdom in the word \*suvīra\*, and here apparently interprets \*vidatha\* as "wise counsel". However, \*suvīra\* has the definite connotation of "hero", and should be translated as "with good heroes may we speak high (or boast) in the congregation." It is a prayer to the gods and expresses the wish of the singers that they might have good heroes in their settlement. - [Previous: c7.535](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.535) - [Next: c7.537](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.537) - [Up: c7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.536](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.536) · Pramāṇa