The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c9.40

c9.40

Whilst we meet with instances in Sanskrit literature of Kshatriyas embracing the ascetic life, the preference among people for this practice of world-renunciation seems to be confined to eastern countries; here, however, it seems to prevail very much. Thus, we are told of members of aristocratic families who were fitted by their education to take part in the spiritual life, that even they follow this practice which owes its origin principally to spiritual causes. The rich *seṭṭhi* makes over, as soon as his son can walk, all his possessions, along with his wife and child, to his younger brother, in the consciousness of the worthlessness of worldly enjoyments and the bliss of world-renunciation, and goes as an ascetic to the Himâlaya (III. 300). The same thing is narrated in the Veluka Jâtaka of the members of a very rich family (*mahábhogakula* I. 245). As is natural, in these circles of householders, difficulties arise in the way of their carrying out their resolve; the relations who have to suffer in consequence of their supporter going away, try to dissuade him in every way. Many of the Jâtakas relate the opposition between the wish of the family head to renounce the world and the claims of the family remaining at home.¹ Thus, for instance, we read in the Bandhanâgâra Jâtaka (II. 139 sq.) “Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta ruled in Benares, the Bodhisatta was re-born in the family of a poor gahapati. When he grew up, his father died and he supported his mother by working for a salary. His mother, however, quite against his will brought for him as his wife a girl of good family and died soon after. Now, his wife became pregnant; he, however, knew nothing of her condition and said to her one day, “My wife, you must see to it that you can maintain yourself by work, for I will renounce the world.” “O Lord, I am pregnant; wait till the child is born and you have seen it, and then become an ascetic.” He was pleased with this and as soon as she was confined, he said. “Now, my dear, as you are happily confined, I will go into the homeless condition.” “Wait till the child is weaned.” And she became pregnant for the second time.