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156 INDIA AS DESCRIBÚD IN EARLY THXTS voor as they were wholly dependent on an uncertain income from fees, gifts, and alms.
The Purohita occupied a peculiar position in the court. Though in the service of the king, he was not counted among the king's officers. But he was partly entrusted with official functions and surpassed the royal officers in many respects in importance and influence. As house-priest of the king, the Purohita advised him in secular and spiritual matters (atthadhammānusāsako). He acted as the ācariya or preceptor, the sacrificial priest and the house-priest. He was the person to invoke the favour of the gods on behalf of the king or his family, and it was also in his power to do him barm. He performed the sacrifice with the assistance of other Brāhmaṇas to guard against misfortunes suggested through bad dreams, or through some unusual natural phenomena. He was expected to be able to predict the result of all important undertakings on the part of the king by means of signs or constellation of stars. The Purohita was preferably appointed from among the teachers, playmates, comrades or class-fellows of the king, so that he might be always trusted and relied upon as the best friend
1 Fick, op. cit., p. 184.
Jataka, ü, p. 376; wv, p. 270; v, p. 127. Ibid., in p. 834f. ; it, p. 46.
