1. The Brahmans,. or the priests.. " Sines • the Brabmen fromethe mostexeniene part," says the some cede, immediately quoted, "since be- nu the. first bora, and; since be possesses the Veda, he ie by the chief of this whole. ere.
duaelin.the• • 'lig from his own male* that, hawing holy rites, he might Femeole gilled to the gads, and cakes • of ricete the progenitors. of mankindfor the preservation of this World. What. created being then. can surpass Hien with. whose mouth, the of the fisroament conk timidly feast on c • buttervand: the inane. of ancestors on.hallowed cakes Of createdithings; the mod excellent. are. those which. are animated of the • animated, those which subsist by• intelligence; • of the intelligent, meekiud ; and of.men, the sacerdotal Blass. Brahma springs to light, be igloos above the world, the chief of all creatures.. What, ever exists in the universe, is all, in effect, the wealth of the Brahmen.; since the Brabmen is entitled to • it all. by his primogeniture and eminence of birth." As. the Brahman; exclusively, or at. least to a prone degree, engrosses the regard. and favour of the Deity, so he is. entitled, to the worship and ado, ration of mortals.. Kings, themselves, and the most exalted of inen,.are infinitely inferior. to the meanest of the. Brahman& " Let the king," we again quote the ordinances, of Menu, " having risen at early dawn, respectfully attend to Brahmin; learned in the three Vedas, ism .... and. by their. decision, let him abide: - Constantly meet he show respect to t Brahma ", who have grown • old, who know the scriptures, who are pure." " The. king must ap point seven or eight ministers, &c To one learn act Brabmen, distinguished among them all, let the king impart his. momentous counsel. To him, with Ain confidence, let him entrust all. his transactions and with him: having taken his final resolution, lei him begin all his manures." " Let him not, although in the greatest distress, provoke Brahmans to anger, by whom Brahma, the' all-devouring fire, was crest• ed, the sea with water snot drinkable, and the moon with its wane and increase. What prince would gain wealth by oppressing those, who, if angry, could frame other worlds, and agents of worlds, could to new gods and mortals/ What men, of life, would injure those by the aid of whom, worlds and gods perpetually subsist; those who are rich in the knowledge of the Veda ? A Brahman, whether learned or ignorant,• is a power ful divinity; even as fire, is a powerful divinity, whether consecrated or popular. Thus, though
Reshapess employ themselves. in all sorts of mean occupations, they must invariably be honoured; for they are something transcendently divine." The least disrespect to one of the sacred order, is. the most atrocious of crimes. " For contumelious language to a Bratunen," says the code of Mann, efludra must havens iron styles tee finger long, thrust relhot into his mouth; and for offering to give instruction to priests, hot oil. must be poured. into hieineuth endears." • • The laws give to the.Brahmens the most remark. able advantages, over the other classes of the cons. manly. Neither the person, nor so much as the property of the Brabmen, can ever be touched, in aeurding punishment for the mostetrocious. crimes. " Nene shall the king," says ooe of the ordinances of Menu,. ia slay a Brahman, though convicted of all.
; let him banish the offender from bus. with . all, his property.secure„ and his body unhurt." • Thin ileged. order was entirely.. enempt freartaxe& One of the most. important of. all duties, is to bestow wealth upon the Brahmans, by issoessent gilts and demotions.
. e.. The Csheariyas, or. the military caste. Though the Brahman look down upon this class, they are looked: up belay all the.rest of the classes, with a prostrate veneration, inferior only to that with which the Bedinsens are regarded. The difference of rank. in India, isnot, a, more ceremonial. distinction. The advantages, which are conferred by it, or the injuries endured,. are immense; and to the suffering- pasty unspeakably degrading. . Any infringement, even of the external narks of the abjectness of the degraded. party, is punished as, a heinous crime. " If. a man of an inferior cane," soya Halhed's Gado°. Code, 's madly *acting:an equality with a person of au. peen cast, should speak at the same time. with him, the magistrate in that Me shall wish him to the extent of his abilities." It is unnecessary, under this head, to- epter into detail& which. would occupy disproportionate space.