Pre-Buddhist India: A Political, Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey of Ancient India Based Mainly on the Jataka Stories c4.t3.30

c4.t3.30

As a matter of fact, we cannot reconcile ourselves with the idea¹² that kings of the *Jātakas* are *not* arbitrary. But we do recognise the fact that the people of those days did not always tolerate, or acquiesce in, the arbitrary or autocratic and despotic deeds of the kings. We have several instances of the powerful risings of the whole people against wicked and unjust kings. Fierce and cruel and like grit in the eye to all folk in his princely days, a king has to suffer severe punishment at the hands of the people for his unjust deeds. “Filled with indignation,” says the story, “the nobles and brahmins and all classes (*Khattiya-Brāhmaṇadayo nagaravāsino*) with one accord cried out,