A History of Indian Literature v1.c8.s8.9

v1.c8.s8.9

The fact that the warrior-caste was closely connected with the intellectual life and the literary activity of ancient times, is proved by numerous passages in the Upaniṣads, in fact already in the Brāhmaṇas. In the Kauṣītaki-Brāhmaṇa (XXVI, 5) a king Pratardana converses with the priests concerning the sacrificial science. In Book XI of the Śatapatha-Brāhmaṇa there is repeated mention of King Janaka of Videha, who confounded all priests by his knowledge. The passage in which Janaka questions the priests Śvetaketu, Somaśuṣma and Yājñavalkya as to how they perform the fire-sacrifice (Agnihotra) is particularly instructive. None of them gives a satisfactory answer. But Yājñavalkya receives a gift of a hundred cows, because he has inquired the most deeply into the meaning of the sacrifice, although, as King Janaka remarks, even upon him the true meaning of the Agnihotra has not yet dawned. After the king has departed, the priests say to one another: "Truly, this warrior has confounded us by his speech. Well! We will challenge him to a theological debate (Brahmodya)." Yājñavalkya, however, dissuades them, saying: "We are Brahmans, but he is only a warrior. If we overcome him, whom shall we say that we have overcome? But if he should overcome us, the people would say of us: 'A warrior has overcome the Brahmans'; do not think of such a thing!" The two other priests agreed with him, but Yājñavalkya betakes himself to King Janaka and begs to be instructed by him.¹ Ayasthūṇa, too, the sacrificer, who instructs his priest Śaulvāyana,² can hardly be a Brahman, although Sāyaṇa declares him to be a Ṛṣi. (According to tradition, even the Ṛṣis or composers of the hymns of the Ṛgveda were by no means always members of the priesthood. Thus it is said of a Ṛṣi Kavaṣa, that he was the son of a female slave, a non-Brahman.) When he wanted to participate in a great sacrifice, the priests drove him away, to die of hunger and thirst in the desert. But the waters and the goddess Sarasvatī take pity on him, he 'sees' a hymn, whereupon the priests recognise him as a Ṛṣi and receive him back.³