The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c10.13

c10.13

Little need be said here of Buddhist social or political theory. On the whole, it is more liberal than the Brahmanical. It could not ignore the deep-rooted institution of caste but it refuses to set very much store by it. It does not believe in the age-long Brahmanic supremacy. It confers no privileges on Brâhmaṇas. It does not constantly advise the king to enforce the principles of the established social order. Buddhist literature habitually places Kṣatriyas before Brâhmaṇas.¹ For political philosophy the Jâtakas are not particularly valuable. Their utility consists in the light which they throw on contemporary social, economic and political circumstances. The Jâtaka material has been worked out from the economic standpoint by Mrs. Rhys Davids² and from a broad social standpoint by Richard Fick.³ But at least from the political point of view there is room for further research and fresh conclusions.