The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c11.2

c11.2

If our proposition is right, that by the Khattiyas of the Pali texts only the ruling families and not a nobility in possession of land and important military or political offices, are to be understood, it is clear that this class is only represented by its principal representative, the *râjan*. Apart from the mention of Khattiyas in general, very little is said of the rest of the members of the ruling class; only, the viceroy, the *uparâjan*, appears occasionally by the side of the king, whilst this latter stands in the Jâtaka—one would like to say everywhere—in the centre of action.¹