Pre-Buddhist India: A Political, Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey of Ancient India Based Mainly on the Jataka Stories c6.s1.9

c6.s1.9

No doubt the law of society evolved for the most part out of such conceptions of religion. The *Uddālaka-Jātaka*² is, of course, the most important on this point. The penetrating *gāthās*, there, first declare that 'right conduct is the only way to bliss' (*sasamyamam caraṇam yeva saccam*) : a thousand Vedas will not safety bring (*sahassavedo pi na tam paṭicca*) : and then, who is a true Brāhmaṇa? When Uddālaka puts forth the character of a Brāhmaṇa as he apparently sees in real life, i.e., as one who rejects all worldly thoughts, takes the fire with him, sprinkles water, offers sacrifices and sets up the sacrificial post,³ the purohita, his father, finds fault with this conception and replies in his own way, giving out the list of virtues that a Brāhmaṇa should possess,⁴ and then says: