[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) › c8.94 # The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c8.94 The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c8.94 - **Language:** English ### [c8.94](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c8.94) The Bodhisatta, re-born as a Caṇḍāla, undertakes a journey after providing himself with some rice as viaticum and a provision basket and comes across a youth belonging to a rich Brâhmaṇa family in the north-west who for some reason has not taken any of these things with him. After they have narrated to each other their castes—as has already been explained above—they travel together. At the time of breakfast the Bodhisatta sits down near a well, washes his hands and opens his basket while he invites the youth to eat with him. "I don't want to eat, Caṇḍāla," runs the answer. "Good" thinks the Bodhisatta and takes, that there may not remain anything in his dishes, only that much which he requires and places it on a leaf. Then he fastens his basket, places it by his side, eats and drinks. After his meal is finished, he washes his hands and feet, takes his rice and the remainder of his food and moves on with the words, "Come let us go, young man." They travel the whole day. In the evening, they come to a sheet of water and take both a bath. After finishing this, the Bodhisatta sits down at a pleasant spot, opens his basket and begins to eat without asking the young Brāhmaṇa to eat with him. The youth tired with the day's long march and feeling hungry stands by his side and looks on, reflecting, "If he gives me anything to eat, I will accept it." The other says nothing and continues to eat. The Brāhmaṇa reflects, "This Caṇḍāla eats all without saying anything to me. I will ask him for a crumb. If he gives it to me, I can throw away the outer portion which is impure and eat the rest." He carries out his intention and eats the food that remains out of the Caṇḍāla's meal. No sooner, however, did he eat this than he was seized by the thought that he had eaten the table leavings of a Caṇḍāla and had thereby done a thing which was most improper for his caste, his family, his land and felt so repentant that he vomited out the food that he had swallowed mixed with blood. "For the sake of a trifling thing I have done a most improper act," so he laments, full of grief and recites the verse: - [Previous: c8.93](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c8.93) - [Next: c8.95](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c8.95) - [Up: c8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c8) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c8.94](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c8.94) · Pramāṇa