Correct Option
The correct option is 2 only
Explanation
The question pertains to early Buddhist texts and their critique of the Brahmanical social order. Specifically, it refers to a philosophical dialogue concerning the validity of the varna (caste) hierarchy found in the Pali Canon.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: The dialogue between King Avantiputta of Madhura and the disciple Kachchana is recorded in the Madhura Sutta. This sutta is contained within the Majjhima Nikaya, which is one of the five collections (Nikayas) of the Sutta Pitaka in the Pali Canon.
- Statement 2 is Correct: The primary purpose of this dialogue is to refute the claim that Brahmins are a superior caste. Kachchana argues that if a Shudra were wealthy, they could employ a Brahmin, and if a Brahmin committed a crime, they would face the same punishment as a Shudra. The dialogue concludes that the four varnas are essentially equal ("the same") in terms of worldly reality and spiritual potential, explicitly rejecting the idea that they are fundamentally different or unequal.
Key Takeaway
Key Takeaway: The Majjhima Nikaya contains the Madhura Sutta, which presents the Buddhist argument against the divine origin of caste, asserting that all four varnas are equal in the eyes of the law and economic reality.