Theory of Government in Ancient India (Post-Vedic) c11.2

c11.2

The post-vedic Brahmanic literature falls into several sections and reflects some social and political development, but, as a whole, it is characterised by the same tone and temper. In the sphere of governmental theory, the Epics, the political and legal treatises, the Purāṇas and general literature start from the same fundamental assumptions. But from the fifth century B.C. onwards, Brahmanism had to contend with two vigorous protestant movements—Buddhism and Jainism. They experienced many vicissitudes of fortune until one of them disappeared from India and the other sank into a small sect, but they produced a vast literature and gave rise to many social theories.