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158 INDIA AS DESCRIBED IN EARLY TEXTS
Purohita other Brāhmaṇas objected to the consecration of the State elephant by his son on the ground that he was still too young and was wanting in scriptural knowledge. The main source of income of the Purohitas was the fees and gifts received from the kings on all festive occasions and at the time of sacrifices. The gifts included land-endowments, women, maidens, slaves, male and female, and livestocks. Fick seems to be right in his suggestion that here lay the origin of the landed property and worldly prosperity of the Purohitas. Among the Purohitas appointed from among the Brāhmaṇas versed in the Vedic lore, Mahāgovinda, Bavari and others may be singled out as those who were Brahmasama-brāhmaṇas. There were others who were either unworthy of the office they held or whose virtue did not come up to the Brahmanio ideal.
In the monarchies, the Brahmins figure among the amaccas and manāmättas 1 who, too, were rich and influential by virtue of the office held by them. The strength and quality of administration largely depended on their honesty and efficiency. They were the great diplomats and specialists in the rules of royal polity. In the Mahāparinibbāna Suttanta, we have mention of Sunidha and Vassakāra as two able Brah
Cf, ZDMG., 37, pp. 287, 275.
