The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c11.5

c11.5

Corresponding to this magnificent exterior, there was not, as in the Indian courts of to-day, an inner want of power; the rājan of that time is not only "the magnificent, shining in royal pomp," he is, as his name signifies, in the first place,¹ "the ruling one." The Brahmanical authorities, no doubt, especially, the lawbooks, see in the king in several ways only "an appendage of the priests"; according to these the king is only there to supply the Brâhmaṇas with what they require.¹ It is different with the Jâtakas. Of a general control of the priestly caste over the administration, no traces are, in my opinion, to be found here or in other Pali literature. Where we meet with instances of a predominant influence on the part of the Brâhmaṇas, the reason is to be sought in the individual circumstances of the king and his spiritual advisers, especially, the royal house-priest, the purohita.