BRAHMANISM AND BUDDHISM 271 and grow rich in his own way. The devout pilgrim pursued his Sanskrit studies for three years at Patali- putra, and for two years at the port of Tamralipti (Tamluk), without let or hindrance, and it is clear that the roads were safe for travellers. Fa-hien never has occasion to complain of being stripped by brigands, a misfortune which befell his successor, Hiuen Tsang, more than once in the seventh century. Probably India has never been governed better, after the Orien- tal manner, than it was during the reign of Vikramaditya. The government did not at- tempt to do too much, but let the people alone, and was accordingly popular. The merciful teachings of Buddhism influenced the lives of all classes, except the most degraded, while, inasmuch as the sovereign was a Brahmanical Hindu, the tendency to the harassing kind of persecution, which a Buddhist or Jain government is apt to display, was kept in check, and liberty of conscience was assured. Fa-hien, as a pious devotee, necessarily saw everything through Buddhist specta- cles, but it is evident that, with a Brahmanical supreme THE GOD BRAHMA. From Moor 'i Hindu Pantheon.
