The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c9.34

c9.34

We should not be surprised at the fact that the prescription which among the Brahmanas the law makes concerning residence in the forest as the third stage (asrama) of life, is found also in the Jatakas. Less obvious is the fact that even among worldly Brahmanas who, as we shall see, have often nothing in common with the proper representatives of their caste except the name, the adoption of the homeless condition is mentioned. So far as these Brâhmaṇas were in the service of the king, they had probably to get the permission of their lord before they could exchange their worldly state for the homeless condition; for the king did not always agree in this way to lose his servants. Kassapa, the son of the king's house priest, reflects in the Lomasakassapa Jâtaka, "My friend has become a king and will lend me powerful help. But what should I require help for? I will take leave of my parents and the king (or "ask their permission," mátápitaro ca rájánañ ca ápucchitvá. III. 515) and adopt the homeless condition."