In which Veda have the Sabha and Samiti been declared as twin institutions?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — C, Atharvaveda. The Atharvaveda uniquely describes the Sabha and Samiti — the two principal assemblies of later Vedic polity — as 'twin daughters of Prajapati' (the creator), giving them a sanctified, quasi-divine status. This specific framing is not found in the other three Vedas.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) The oldest Veda; it mentions the Sabha and Samiti as institutions in a general sense in places, but the specific 'twin daughters of Prajapati' description is an Atharvaveda formulation, not a Rigvedic one.  (b) Chiefly a musical adaptation of Rigvedic verses for chanting during the Soma sacrifice — it has no comparable material on Vedic political institutions.  (d) A manual of sacrificial formulae (mantras and prose) for performing yajnas — not a source for Sabha-Samiti governance material.

Concept: Sabha and Samiti were the two principal political-cum-social assemblies of the later Vedic period, alongside the Rajan (king) and the Vidatha. Samiti was the larger general assembly of the tribe/community, while Sabha was a smaller, more select council, often of elders or nobles. The Atharvaveda eulogises both together as 'twin daughters of Prajapati', reflecting their exalted place in Vedic political thought.

State PCS 2024 Q66 — History PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2024 Q66 — History PYQ with Answer