Changes in Polity in later Vedic Era
In the later Vedic period, groups of communities became part of a region or a state (janapada) The idea of kingship evolved gradually from clan chieftainship By the end of the Vedic period, king’s authority was beginning to derive less from the support of such assemblies than from his own success in the struggle for power Gradually, the hereditary element crept in with the further consolidation of power by the rajas From this point, the role of courtiers became

important In the later Vedic era, the main office holders included chief priest (purohit), commander-in-chief (senani), treasurer (samagrahitri), collector of taxes (bhagadugha) and keeper of the king’s household (kshata)
Slowly, the legitimisation of the king’s power started getting confirmed by a lengthy and elaborate rituals of sacrifice (yajna) conducted by the priests This way, the alliance between priest and King became the fundamental feature of the Indian polity It also later led to social stratification