The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c12.10

c12.10

From the quotations it is evident that by the expression amacca, no Khattiya or Brâhmaṇa is in general to be understood. But to what caste do the ministers belong, if they are not to be looked upon either as Khattiyas or as Brâhmaṇas? In my opinion, they do not always belong to the same caste; the amaccas form a class by themselves which is generally hereditary, and in consequence of this hereditary character, to which probably, as in the case of the Khattiyas, a specially developed class-consciousness is joined, possesses a certain, though distant, resemblance with a caste. When asked about his játi, a minister or some one belonging to him would perhaps have replied, if he was...