The Religion of the Veda: The Ancient Religion of India (from Rig-Veda to Upanishads) c10.52

c10.52

I think that a saying of the modern sage and pious ascetic, the Paramahansa Rāmakrishna,¹ throws essentially the right light upon the exceptional character of the theosophic exploits of kings: "Men always quote the example of the King Janaka, as that of a man who lived in the world and yet attained perfection. But throughout the whole history of mankind there is only this solitary example. His case was not the rule but the exception." We may tone down this statement, and apply it to the present question as follows: Not all Brahmans were intellectually or morally sound, but some Brahmans were at all times, as they were in the days of Çankara and Kumārila, the intellectual leaders of India; brilliant helpers from the other castes, more especially the Royal caste,² lent occasional aid, and this aid justly compelled acknowledgment and admiration.