The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c13.17

c13.17

But the *purohita* is not only the fatherly adviser, the friend and inseparable companion; he appears sometimes as an officer of a purely temporal character. Mention has already been made of his participation in the administration of justice; the Kiṃchanda Jâtaka describes to us a slandering, corrupt *purohita* who when sitting in Court makes unjust judgments (*kūṭavinicchayiko ahosi* V. 1). In better light the Dhammadhaja Jâtaka (II. 186sq.) shows the judicial work of the royal house priest. Here it is narrated how a man who is defeated in a lawsuit through the adverse judgment of a corrupt *senâpati* leaves the Court, wringing his hands and weeping and meets the *purohita*, as he proceeds to do the king's work. He falls prostrate before him and complains that he has lost his case: "Whilst people like you, my lord, advise the king in worldly and spiritual things the *senâpati* takes bribes and robs the rightful owner of his property.” The purohita feels sympathy for him and says to him, “Come, I will decide your case”; they go to the Court together where there is a great crowd assembled. The purohita reverses the judgment (*aṭṭam paṭivinicchinitvā*, II. 187) and helps the rightful owner to get his own property. The crowd praised him loudly, so that a great noise arose. The king heard this and asked what the matter was. “O king, the wise Dhammadhaja has set right a wrong judgment and hence this shout of praise.” The king was pleased and asked the purohita: “People say, my teacher, you have decided a lawsuit; is it true?” “Yes, O Great King, I have set right a thing wrongly judged by the *senāpati*.” “Then you shall from to-day try lawsuits; that will bring pleasure to my ears and prosperity to the world.”