A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s6.t3.71

v2.c19.s6.t3.71

The Vajrasūcī or “Diamond Needle,”[^1) which is sometimes ascribed to Aśvaghoṣa, also reveals an intimate knowledge of Brahmanical literature. Unfortunately there are grave doubts as to whether he was actually the author of this little work, which is certainly interesting in any case. This work refutes the Brahmanical caste system very cuttingly. The author’s method is extremely effective, for he takes up the Brahmanical standpoint, and seeks to prove from the Brahmanical texts themselves, by quotations from the Veda, the Mahābhārata and the law-book of Manu,[^2) how frail the claims of the Brahman caste are. When B. H. Hodgson