Finding the Cure for Today's Social Ills
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monarchs were not in order, they were dethroned by the brahminical advisory council. Although the  brāhmaṇas  did not take part in politics, they would advise the monarch how to execute the royal function. This is not too far in the past. How long ago was Aśoka?
Prof. Kotovsky:  That would be equal to what we call, in our terminology, ancient and medieval India.
Śrila Prabhupāda:  Yes.
Prof. Kotovsky:  In old and feudal India—you are right—it was very open, and the major part of the high administrative staff in the legislative department were  brāhmaṇas . Even in the Mogul era there were  brāhmaṇas  to advise the Muslim emperors and administrators.
Śrila Prabhupāda:  That is a fact—the  brāhmaṇas  were accepted. They formed the advisory committee of the king. For example, Candragupta, the Hindu king, was in the age of Alexander the Great. Just before Candragupta, Alexander the Great went from Greece into India and conquered a portion. When Candragupta became emperor, he had Cāṇakya as his prime minister. Perhaps you have heard this name Cāṇakya?
Prof. Kotovsky:  Yes.
Śrila Prabhupāda:  Yes, he was a great  brāhmaṇa -politician, and it is by his name that the quarter of New Delhi where all the foreign embassies are grouped together is called Cāṇakya Purī. Cāṇakya Paṇḍita was a great politician and  brāhmaṇa . He was vastly learned. His moral instructions are still valuable. In India, schoolchildren are taught Cāṇakya Paṇḍita's instructions. Although he was the prime minister, Cāṇakya Paṇḍita maintained his  brāhmaṇa  spirit; he did not accept any salary. If a  brāhmaṇa  accepts a salary, it is understood that he has become a dog. That is stated in the  Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam . He can advise, but he cannot accept employment. So Cāṇakya Paṇḍita was living in a cottage, but he was actually the prime minister. This brahminical culture and the brahminical brain is the standard of Vedic civilization. The  Manu-smṛti  is an example of the standard of brahminical culture. You cannot trace out from history when the  Manu-smṛti  was written, but it is considered so perfect that it is the Hindu law. There is no need for the legislature to pass a new law daily to adjust social order. The law given by Manu is so perfect that it can be applicable for all time. It is stated in Sanskrit to be  tri-kālādau , which means "good for the past, present, and future."
Prof. Kotovsky:  I am sorry to interrupt you, but to my knowledge all of Indian society in the second half of the eighteenth century was, by order of the British administration, under a law divergent from Hindu law. There was a lot of change. The actual Hindu law that was used by the