Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c38.36

c38.36

¹ Rishis. In this description there is a tendency to appropriate the credit of destroying the pseudo-historical tyrant, to Brahma-philosophers and *Rishis*. There are clear traces of a subsequent brahmanisation of the theory in certain places. All the *varṇas*, it is said in the beginning of the chapter, went to the Creator for advice on the appointment and election of a king. Why in subsequent procedure, then, should the *Ṛishis* alone figure prominently? The reply may be given that *Ṛishis* were from, and represented, all the three Aryan *varṇas*. Yet there is no doubt as to a leaning towards Brahmin prominence. In the same book combined action by all the *varṇas* in a similar matter is discussed. The explanation of the fact that the Mahā-Bhārata, the Rāmāyaṇa and the Mānava Dharma Śāstra bear very strong marks of an overstatement of Brahmin claim, attributable to the same period and to almost the same pens and hands, is found in the political history of the 2nd Century B.C. At that time a great Brahmin (Pushyamitra) actually ascended the throne of India and brought about a mighty religious and social revolution as against the previous political and religious systems. When the Brahmin ruler crushed the Greek power and saved Hindu civilization, the claims could be made with some justification, and in view of the great success and popularity of the new regime, could become current with greater ease than they would have been otherwise. Both the epics clearly state that they were revised (*e.g.*, पुरा वाल्मीकिना कृतम्) *Rāmāyaṇa* Bk. VI. Ch. 128. 105 and 110) and Mahā-Bhārata (Bk.I) Their attacks on Buddhism and the political data which in the case of the Rāmāyaṇa exclusively and in the case of the Mahā-Bhārata mostly, belong to the 2nd Century B.C. prove that revision to have been made in the early S'uṅga period. Overstatement of Brahmin claim in them therefore should not mislead us. It can be fortunately corrected in the light of inscriptions, the Jātakas and other Pali works and books like the Artha-Śāstra, the Dharma Sūtras, and the records left by foreign observers.