Sabhasad is the term used to refer to a person who is qualified
to sit and participate in a Sabha or Assembly in ancient India especially
during the period of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
The permanent members of King’s assembly were known as Sabhasad.
The king mostly directly appointed them. Some of them were ministers or one who
held important offices.
Sabhasad were present in the Sabhas or assemblies that were
held to take important decisions, to receive important guests and to celebrate
important occasions.
All Sabhasads were present in the Sabha or assembly of Dhritarashtra
when dice was played, when Pandavas were exiled, when Draupadi was disrobed and
when Sri Krishna arrived carrying message of peace and settlement.
In the Ramayana, all sabasads were invited by Dasharatha for
meeting to crown Sri Ram as king of Ayodhya.
Ravana called all his sabhasads several times to discuss the
strategy for waging war against Sri Ram.