The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c8.79

c8.79

The first question which the Brâhmaṇa youth Satadhamma asks a Caṇḍâla who happens to travel the same way with him is about the caste. "To what caste do you belong" (Kimjátiko si II. 82), asks the Brâhmaṇa his travelling companion. "I am a Caṇḍâla", answers the other and asks the Brâhmaṇa the same question. Haughtily comes the latter's reply, "I am a Brâhmaṇa from the northwest" (ahaṃ udicca-brahmaṇo)¹ and it seems to be a wonder when it is further narrated that the two continued to go by the same road. Another person, likewise a youth belonging to a Brâhmaṇa family in the northwest, of whom it is expressly stated that he is very proud of his caste (tassa jātim nissāya mahanto māno ahosi III. 232) exhibits greater anxiety for "atmospheric purification". On his return to the town of Benares he meets a Caṇḍâla. "Who art thou", he asks him and as the latter replies, "I am a Caṇḍâla", he tries to run away from him, for fear lest the wind which has moved through the body of the despised creature should touch him, and cries out loudly, "Damn you, Caṇḍâla, raven of evil omen, move out of the wind."