The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c14.81

c14.81

Even the privilege of dāna, of receiving presents, the Brâhmaṇas of the Jâtakas enjoy in great measure. The liberality of the kings which probably laid the foundation for the wealth of individual Brâhmaṇas, seems to be even in the eastern lands, if not a duty, at least a recognised virtue. We have seen how willingly King Juṇha satisfies the by no means moderate demand of the Brâhmaṇa; in the Somadatta Jâtaka it is narrated that the king gives a Brâhmaṇa sixteen cows, articles of ornament and a village as a place of residence. The whole is described as a gift to a Brâhmaṇa (brahmadeyya, II. 166), an expression which indicates a standing custom and which we meet with elsewhere in Pali literature. In the Dîgha Nikaya mention is made in several places of villages which are given to Brâhmaṇas by kings as brahmadeyya.