This crime of the rods is of ancient descent. Killing innocent creatures, the sacrificers forsake righteousness.

And that is how this mean old practice was criticized by sensible people. Wherever they see such a thing, folk criticize the sacrificer.

With righteousness gone, peasants and menials were split, as were many aristocrats, and wives looked down on their husbands.

Aristocrats and brahmins only by kin, and others protected by their clan, neglecting their genealogy, fell under the sway of sensual pleasures.”

When he had spoken, those well-to-do brahmins said to the Buddha, “Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! … From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember us as lay followers who have gone for refuge for life.”

Anthology of Discourses 2.8 The Boat