The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c6.s1.14

c6.s1.14

Indeed, we hear of kṣatriyas becoming brahmins, for example, the famous king Janaka of Videha. It is not without interest that Janaka becomes a brahmin on being successful in a verbal contest on the meaning of the agnihotra offerings.²⁹ On the other hand, brahmins do not seem to be excluded from becoming kings and warriors: for instance, the brahmin Paraśurāma, who exterminated the kṣatriyas.³⁰ It is further interesting that Paraśurāma after finishing his conquests performs a sacrifice, or even an aśvamedha, at which he hands over the conquered earth to the brahmin Kaśyapa, who eventually hands it over to kṣatriyas.³¹ If I am not mistaken, the ancient system of exchange and reversal of roles is still discernible here.