Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c9.s34.1.1

c9.s34.1.1

Perhaps the best known section of Megasthenes is his account of the seven 'tribes' or classes of India. They are : (1) The philosophers, (2) cultivators, (3) herdsmen and hunters, (4) artisans and traders, (5) fighters, (6) overseers (Ephors or Episcopoi) and (7) councillors and assessors³. Megasthenes, like Nearchus, mentions two types of Brahmins—those engaged in the study of nature and practice of religion, and those who took part in political life and advised the king as counsellors. Both these classes were numerically small, but highly respected for their learning and character. The class of philosophers included two types ; first the officiating priests (*purohitas*) who conducted religious ceremonials, public and private, in return for *dakṣiṇā*, were exempt from labour and taxation, and predicted the fortunes of every year at its commencement ; then there were the ascetics (*sanyāsins*) who have been mentioned already. The seventh class provided the mantrins, the judges, treasurers and generals for the army. The second class of cultivators formed the bulk of the population ; they were exempt from fighting and other services, devoted the whole of their time to tillage, and were of a mild and gentle disposition. They lived in the country and avoided towns as much as possible. In times of war, they were allowed to go about their occupation undisturbed by the surrounding conflict.