The main social and political unit of the early Vedic people was the:

The "jana" (tribe or people) was the largest and most important social and political unit of the early Vedic period.

About the jana:

• The Rigveda mentions many janas, such as the Bharatas, Purus, Yadus, Turvashas, Anus and Druhyus.
• Each jana was led by a chief called the "rajan", whose main duty was to protect the tribe and its cattle, and to lead it in war.
• The rajan was not an absolute ruler; he was assisted by tribal assemblies such as the sabha and samiti.
• The term "janapada" (land where a tribe settled) does not appear in the Rigveda; it became common later.

Social units of the early Vedic period:

• "Kula": family, the basic unit, headed by the "kulapa" (head of the family).
• "Grama": a group of families, or a village.
• A larger grouping of people formed a unit below the jana.
• "Jana": the tribe.
• The family was patriarchal (headed by the father).

Changes in the later Vedic period:

• The tribes settled down in particular territories, which came to be called "janapadas" (literally, "the place where the tribe set its foot").
• Larger kingdoms formed by the union of tribes, such as the Kurus (formed from the Bharatas and Purus) and the Panchalas.
• The power of the king increased, and assemblies became less important.
• By the 6th century BCE, there were sixteen powerful states called "mahajanapadas".

Tribal wars in the Rigveda:

Wars between tribes were common; they were often fought over cattle, land and water.

Why not the other options?

• ✗"Janapada" became the main unit in the later Vedic period.
• ✗"Mahajanapada" refers to the large states of the 6th century BCE.
• ✗"Nagara" means city; cities developed much later, in the second urbanisation.