A History of Indian Literature v1.c8.s8.7

v1.c8.s8.7

We are not, however, likely to find these oldest philosophers of ancient India among the priests, who were engaged in the science of sacrifice. For their teachings, which were directed against the plurality of gods, were in obvious contradiction to the interest of these priests. We can scarcely imagine that the Brahmans, who lived by the sacrifices, had many men amongst them who doubted the existence of Indra himself, and raised the question whether there were any sense in sacrificing to the gods.² It is much more probable that such sceptics and thinkers were to be found among those who were the most obnoxious to the priests, among the "misers," who did not *believe*, *i.e.*, who did not sacrifice and gave no gifts to the priests.