The Religion of the Veda: The Ancient Religion of India (from Rig-Veda to Upanishads) c10.45

c10.45

I doubt whether this statement, and others of a similar nature, justify us in regarding the warrior caste as the spiritual saviors of India. As regards King Pravāhana Jaivali’s statement, it is specious on the face of it. For what have royalty and transmigration to do with one another? In its essence the doctrine of transmigration has no more regard for royalty than for the lowest caste, because its purpose is release from any form of individual existence (see the sixth lecture). Then again, the very texts that narrate these exploits of the Kshatriyas are unquestionably Brahmanic. Would the arrogance and selfishness of the Brahmans have allowed them to preserve and propagate facts calculated to injure permanently their own standing? Surely not.