The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c14.78

c14.78

As they had to perform the duties of their position, so were the "true" Brâhmaṇas undoubtedly given certain privileges¹ even in the eastern lands. If their position was inferior to that of the Khattiyas who did not think it worth while to leave their seat at the sight of a Brâhmaṇa and offer a seat to him, and even if the claim which the young Brâhmaṇa Ambaṭṭha makes in the Dîgha Nikaya (III. 1, 15), namely, that of the four castes, three—Khattiya, Vessa, Sudda—existed in order that they might serve the Brâhmaṇa, was not so absolutely valid as he thought, he never suffered from lack of *arca*, *i.e.*, proper respect. If in the enumeration of the castes, the Brâhmaṇas are placed second, still even to Buddha himself the Kaṇṇakathâla Sutta¹ ascribes the saying that along with the Khattiyas the Brâhmaṇas take precedence over the other castes, so far as visible marks of respect are concerned.