Pre-Buddhist India: A Political, Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey of Ancient India Based Mainly on the Jataka Stories c6.s1.63
Pre-Buddhist India: A Political, Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey of Ancient India Based Mainly on the Jātaka Stories c6.s1.63
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c6.s1.63
Whether the Brāhmaṇas also enjoyed immolestability (ajyeyatā) and immunity from execution (avadhyatā) cannot be determined with precision from our stories. Most probably they were free from taxes, for whenever the question is taxes, the gahapati or the kuṭumbika is mentioned as the person who is taxed.⁷ And though immunity from execution (avajjho bhavati brāhmaṇo)⁸ was recognized, it was, for all practical purposes, a theoretical dictum, as in the eyes of the law we do not find anything like a favourable attitude shown towards them.⁹