The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c9.8

c9.8

Also in Sanskrit literature we find instances of a non-Brâhmaṇa entering into the ascetic state and especially, of a râjarshi, king, abdicating and becoming an ascetic. The story in the Râmâyaṇa of the quarrel between Vaśiṣṭha and Viśvâmitra is well-known. In order to obtain the cow of the holy Vasisṭha, king Viśvāmitra retires into the solitude of a forest, after handing over the reins of government to his son, where by means of severe austerities he tries to acquire mastery over his opponent. He obtains through his asceticism the weapon of the gods and attacks Vasisṭha *de novo* but the latter survives this attack by reason of his rank as Brâhmaṇa. Then the king resolves, as only a Brâhmaṇa can defeat a Brâhmaṇa, to attain the rank of a Brahmaṇa. After a thousand years of severe austerities, he receives from Brahmâ the title of a “kingly seer (râjarshi)” ; not satisfied with this, he practises further penance till he frightens the gods and at the request of these, Brahmâ raises him to the rank of a Brâhmaṇa.