Caste in India: The Facts and the System c7.s2.52

c7.s2.52

The law-books not only reserve for the Brahmans all the influential functions and privileges, but also invariably graduate the scale of criminal punishment in their favour. We have seen how the representative council or general assembly of the caste, under the direction of its appointed chief, is empowered to maintain internal law and order, to pronounce the necessary exclusions, or to assess the terms on payment of which the delinquent may escape exclusion. In this connexion Manu and Yājñavalkya speak only of assemblies of Brahmans versed in the sacred texts.¹ The idea of extending Brahmanic power is apparent here; and indeed even to-day a Brahman, alone or co-opted to the council of the caste, often takes the preponderant part in these decisions. The whole of this literature is imbued with and animated by the spirit of Brahmanic ambition. It may be difficult to show in any detail the extent of its arbitrary action. It is certain that it colours more than one part of the picture, and that it misrepresents several of the motive-forces of the social organization as it has been sketched for us. The testimony of literary tradition must then clearly be accepted, but with many reservations.