160 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
(18) Rugs of skins of the plantain antelope.
(19) Carpets with awnings above them (Sauttarakkhadam).
(20) Sofas with red pillows for the head and feet”.
The Brahmins were addicted to the use of means for adorning and beautifying themselves; that is to say:
Rubbing in scented powders on one’s body, shampooing it, and bathing it, patting the limbs with clubs after the manner of wrestlers, the use of mirrors, eye-ointments, garlands, rouge, cosmetics, bracelets, necklaces, walking-sticks, reed cases for drugs, rapiers, sunshades, embroidered slippers, turbans, diadems, whisks of the yak tail and long-fringed white robes.
The Brahmins were addicted to such low conversation as these:
Tales of kings, of robbers, of ministers of state; tales of war, of terrors, of battles; talk about foods and drinks, clothes, beds, garlands, perfumes; talks about relationships, equipages, villages, towns, cities and countries; tales about women, and about heroes; gossip at street corners, or places whence water is fetched; ghost stories; desultory talk; speculations about the creation of the land or sea, or about existence and non-existence.
The Brahmins were addicted to the use of wrangling phrases: such as:
“You don’t understand this doctrine and discipline, I do.”
“How should you know about this doctrine and discipline?”
“You have fallen into wrong views. It is I who am in the right.”
“I am speaking to the point, you are not.”
“You are putting last what ought to come first, and first what ought to come last.”
“What you’ve ex-cogitated so long, that is all quite upset.”
“You are proved to be wrong.”
“Set to work to clear your views.”
“Disentangle yourself if you can.”
The Brahmins were addicted to taking messages, going on errands, and acting as go-betweens; to wit, on kings, ministers of state, Kshatriyas, Brahmans, or young men, saying: Go there, come hither, take this with you, bring that from thence.’ ‘The Brahmins were tricksters, droner out (of holy words for pray), diviners, and exorcists, ever hungering to add gain to gain.’
The Brahmins earned their living by wrong means of livelihood, by low arts, such as these:
(1) Palmistry—prophesying long life, prosperity, & c, (or the reverse from marks on a child’s hands, feet, & c.)
(2) Divining by means of omens and signs.