[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) › c14.133 # The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c14.133 The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c14.133 - **Language:** English ### [c14.133](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c14.133) In the first place, the king employed Brâhmaṇas even in the eastern lands—at least in the old Buddhistic age—for sacrifice; for whenever, in general, a sacrifice was made Brâhmaṇas must be present who made the gods willing to accept the offerings. That, however, the practice of making offerings was in full bloom in Buddha's time, appears certainly from the criticism which is offered in the older Pali texts to the Vedic cult of sacrifice. It cannot have been a difficult problem for Buddhism to discredit sacrifice among the people, if it has had no other meaning than that which is ascribed to it in the Jâtakas. Here it preserves completely its sacerdotal character and is lowered to the rank of a magic art for protection from threatening evil. In the Mahâsupina Jâtaka the king makes an offering in order to prevent the effect of evil dreams. The Brâhmaṇas and the purohita come in the morning to the king who sits in his place full of thoughts of death and reflects on the sixteen dreams, and ask him if he has slept well. "How could I have slept well, my teachers," answers the king, "when towards morning I dreamt sixteen great dreams. Since then I have been full of fear; tell me, my teachers, what they signify." Then he narrates to them his dreams and asks what will happen to him in consequence of these. The Brâhmaṇas wring their hands. On the king asking, "What are you wringing your hands for?" they reply, "The dreams are bad, O great king." "What will result from them?" The Brâhmaṇas reply that of the three evils—injury to the kingdom, injury to life, injury to property—one will happen. "Is there any means of preventing it, or is there none?" "In truth, the dreams are so extraordinarily frightful that there is properly no means of preventing their consequences. However, we will find some preventive means; for if we could not do this, what would be the use of all our learning?" They advise the king to perform a complete fourfold (sabbachatukkena) sacrifice. Full of fear, the king says, "So is my life in your hands, my teachers; make haste and look after my welfare." The Brâhmaṇas are highly pleased at the prospect of gold and feasts. They console the king, saying that he should not have any anxiety and go out of the city where they prepare a place for the sacrifice (yaññâvâṭa). After they have brought a number of quadrupeds to the place of sacrifice and have also collected a number of birds, they move about busily to and fro to bring this and that. - [Previous: c14.132](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c14.132) - [Next: c14.134](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c14.134) - [Up: c14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c14) ## Cites (1) - [Jātaka](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.khuddaka.jataka.77) — Pāli --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c14.133](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c14.133) · Pramāṇa