Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c14.25

c14.25

Sarmanes (*Śramaṇas*). To return now to the other class of philosophers called *Sarmanes* by Megasthenes: Strabo says: "As to the *Sarmanes*, the most highly honoured are called *Hylobioi*, 'forest-dwellers' (*vānaprasthas* or *vanavāsins*). They live in the forests on leaves of trees and wild fruits, and wear garments made from the bark of trees. They also abstain from sexual intercourse and from wine." According to Clemens, "they neither live in cities nor even in houses. They wear barks of trees and live on acorns. They neither marry nor beget children." This description corresponds to Brahmachārīs who preferred to remain as such through life, and were called *Naishṭhika-Brahmachārīs*.