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PUBLIC LIFE
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made was the first of the dark half in the month of Aṣādha, which is the commencement of the karma-bhumi (sweating) sriști (creation, or order of things).
The people were now happy, and prosperity reigned generally in the land. They were very grateful to the WORLD TEACHER for all that he had done for them, and never wearied of singing His praises.
Some time after this Nābhi Raja installed Risabha Deva on the throne, and himself retired from the active concerns of kingship. Great celebrations again took place, in which devas participated.
It was some time after the installation cere
mony that the WORLD TEACHER laid down the foundation of Aryan stability in the form of varṇa-vyavasthā (the rule of the caste). Three varņas, not four, were laid down, corresponding to what may be described as the army, the trades and labour (in a comprehensive sense). The system owed its existence to political foresight rather than anything else. It was merely a threefold conscription. A class was set apart for warfare and the maintenance of order, internal and external; another, for carrying on trade; and the third was to prevent disruption for the want of servants, attendants, stretcher-bearers,
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