Finding the Cure for Today’s Social Ills 199
monarchs were not in order, they were dethroned by the brahminical ad-
visory council. Although the brdhmanas 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 Asoka?

Prof. Kotovsky: That would be equal to what we call, in our ter-
minology, ancient and medieval India. .
Srila Prabhupada: 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 brdhmanas. Even in the Mogul era there were brah-
manas to advise the Muslim emperors and administrators.

Srila Prabhupada: That is a fact—the brahmanas 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 con-
quered a portion. When Candragupta became emperor, he had Canakya
as his prime minister. Perhaps you have heard this name Canakya?
Prof. Kotovsky: Yes.

Srila Prabhupada: Yes, he was a great brdhmana-politician, and it is by
his name that the quarter of New Delhi where all the foreign embassies
are grouped together is called Canakya Puri. Canakya Pandita was a great
politician and brahmana. He was vastly learned. His moral instructions
are still valuable. In India, schoolchildren are taught Canakya Pandita’s .
instructions. Although he was the prime minister, Canakya Pandita
maintained his brdhmana spirit; he did not accept any salary. If a
bradhmana accepts a salary, it is understood that he has become a dog.
That is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. He can advise, but he cannot
accept employment. So Canakya Pandita 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-smrti is
an example of the standard of brahminical culture. You cannot trace out
from history when the Manu-smrti 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-kaladau, 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
