The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c10.74

c10.74

The Purohita’s functions were extremely varied. He is an astrologer and must ward off any misfortunes threatened by bad dreams or inexplicable natural phenomena (I, 334; II, 46; III, 43. Cf. IV, 364). In the Maṅgala Jātaka, (I, 371), however, the premonition of signs is condemned.¹ In Dhonasâkha Jātaka (III, 159) an ambitious Purohita helps the king through a sacrificial ceremony, to acquire a city which is difficult to conquer. He proposes to his lord to pluck out the eyes of the thousand captured kings, to rip up their bellies, take out the entrails and give a bali-offering—to a god. Besides advising the king on all sorts of affairs, the Purohita often performed judicial work. Rectifying a wrong decision of the Senâpati who is supposed to be corrupt, a Purohita receives popular acclamations and is then appointed by the king regularly to try law-suits (II, 186-87). He guards the king’s treasure (I, 439). His ambitions sometimes rise higher.