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Lord Mahavira and His Times
in the Vaiśālī city from where the families of the kings drew water for ceremonial sprinkling.
K. P. JAYASWAL1 interprets the passage of Ekapanna Jātaka in this way: "The rule vested in the inhabitants, 7707 in number, all of whom were entitled to rule. They became Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Commanders-in-chief and Chancellors of Exchequer." What the Jataka means to say is that 7707 of the inhabitants, probably the foundation families, were the ruling class, that it is they who became the executive office holders. The natural meaning and interpretation of the Jataka text would make it mean that 7707 Rājans lived at Vaiśāli and that the number of Uparajans, Senapatis, and Bhanḍāgārikas was the same in each case. As regards K.P. JAYASWAL's view that the Rajan, the Uparajan, the Senāpati and the Bhaṇḍagarika constituted the Cabinet of the executive authority, it seems to be a mere hypothesis unsupported by facts. So far as the monarchical state is concerned, the Jataka evidence conclusively proves that the Rājan, the Uparajan, etc. formed successive grades in the official hierarchy instead of forming a co-ordinate body.
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R.C. MAJUMDAR2 thinks that while the number 7707 may be dismissed as a purely conventional one, it may be accepted that the Supreme Assembly of the state consisted of a pretty number of members and must as such be held to be a popular one. Again, he says that the reference to the like number of Viceroys, Generals, and Treasurers would imply that cach member of the Supreme Assembly possessed a full suite of officers requisite for the administration of a state. In other words, the whole state consisted of a number of administrative units, cach of which was a state in miniature by itself and possessed a complete administrative machinery. The business of the state as a whole was carried on by an Assembly consisting of the heads of these states who were in their turn attended by their principal officers. R. C. MAJUMDAR concludes with the observation that those who are familiar with the Cleisthenian Constitution of the city state of Athens cannot fail to find its prototype in the city of Vaišali.
1. Hindu Polity, p. 43.
2. Corporate Life in Ancient India, pp. 92-04.
