Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v2.c4.s9.289

v2.c4.s9.289

Sam-iti denotes an ‘assembly’ of the Vedic tribe. It is already mentioned in the Rigveda,¹ and often later,² sometimes in connexion with Sabhā.³ Ludwig⁴ considers that the Samiti included all the people, primarily the viśaḥ, ‘subjects,’ but also the Maghavans and Brahmins if they desired, though the Sabhā was their special assembly. This view is not probable, nor is that of Zimmer,⁵ that the Sabhā was the village assembly. Hillebrandt appears to be right in holding that Samiti and Sabhā are much the same, the one being the assembly, the other primarily the place of assembly.