[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) › c14.28 # The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c14.28 The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c14.28 - **Language:** English ### [c14.28](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c14.28) The power of the Brâhmaṇas to give an opinion by reading signs about the future of a man or the success of an enterprise had concealed in it the temptation to make this opinion depend upon the expected reward, and the Jâtakas make it probable that the Brâhmaṇas in many cases could not resist this temptation. An asilakkhaṇapāṭhakabrāhmaṇa, i.e., a Brâhmaṇa who by fixed characteristics (for example, by scent) knows the goodness of a sword, says to people, who have simply paid him for this, “The sword has a lucky sign, it is luck-bringing” (asi lakkhaṇasampanno maṅgalasamyutto I. 455); if, however, he gets no reward for this, he declares the sword to be avalakkhaṇa, i.e., as “possessing bad characteristics.” - [Previous: c14.27](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c14.27) - [Next: c14.29](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c14.29) - [Up: c14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c14) ## Linked texts (1) - [Jātaka](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.khuddaka.jataka.126) — Pāli --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c14.28](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c14.28) · Pramāṇa