Book Title: India As Described In Early Texts Of Buddhism and Jainism
Author(s): Bimla Charn Law
Publisher: Bimlacharan Law

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Page 165
________________ SOCIAL LIFE AND DUONOMIO CONDITIONS 157 in weal and woe. The guarding of the king's treasures was part of his duties. In one instance, he is described as the king's officer (rājakammika); 8 in another, he replaces the Senāpati in the matter of judicial duties. 4 The office of the Purohita was not necessarily hereditary, though the books record instances where it was held by the same family for generations together to justify the appellation, purohitakula. Bavari, for instance, was born in the family of Pasenadi’s Purohita, and was the teacher of Pasenadi during his boyhood. But there are many other instances where the king was at liberty to appoint his own Purohita. It was, however, considered a legitimate expec. tation that after the death of Purohita he would be succeeded in his post by his son. When Govinda, the Purohita of king Disampati of Videha, died, his son Jotipāla was appointed in his post at the suggestion of the crown-prince, Renu. The' Purohitas of the six sub-kings were trained by Mahāgovinda.? In the SusimaJätaka, we read that after the death of the 1 Jataka, i, p. 289; ii, p. 282; ili, p. 31. 2 Ibid., iü, p. 513f. 8 Ibid., i, p. 489. Ibid., ii, p. 187f. 6 Ibid., i, p. 437. 6.Paramatthajotika, II, p. 580. 7 Digha, ü, p. 230f.; Arguttara, li, p. 373. 8 Jätaka, ü, p. 48f.

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