[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897) › c13.17 # The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c13.17 The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c13.17 - **Language:** English ### [c13.17](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.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.” - [Previous: c13.16](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c13.16) - [Next: c13.18](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c13.18) - [Up: c13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c13) ## Linked texts (1) - [Jātaka](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.khuddaka.jataka.220) — Pāli --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c13.17](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c13.17) · Pramāṇa