Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c9.s4.116

c9.s4.116

The Licchavis' political organization appears to have been fairly rigid as the Buddhist and the Jaina writers speak chiefly of the Kṣatriyas forming the government in the republic. Vassakāra, the Magadhan minister, was allowed a judgeship at Vesāli. The *Cīvaravastu* informs us of a chief minister of Videha, named Khaṇḍa, who resigned his office because his colleagues became jealous of his abilities. He then chose to settle in Vesāli in preference to other monarchical capitals and was soon appointed the *senāpati* of the republican army.¹ The Tibetan tradition tells us of a certain Sakala (Dum-bu), a minister from Videha, who also had to flee because of the jealousy of other ministers. He came to Vesālī and “soon became a prominent citizen in Vaiśālī, and after a while he was elected Nāyaka.”² These instances indicate that some prominent Brāhmaṇas and probably also Vaiśyas, were allowed full political rights and were appointed to high positions. But these were exceptions for exceptionally brilliant men rather than the rule. If a non-citizen had any complaints or grievances he would have been allowed to approach the Assembly or the Council directly. In the monarchies of later periods we hear of ordinary men approaching kings with their grievances. Nevertheless, it seems quite obvious from our sources that the Licchavis were no exception³ to the fact that non-Kṣatriyas had no politcal rights in these republics. In his comment on the “communities living by the title of *rājā*,”⁴ Kauṭilya strengthens this view. This practice of the Kṣatriyas alone wielding political power at Vesālī has a Roman counterpart in the sole rule of the Patricians in early Republican times, before the Plebeans achieved similar rights long after the foundation of the Republic in 509 B.C.⁵