India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c12.s6.11

c12.s6.11

VRĀTA—The *Vrātus* were bands of war-like roving aboriginal tribes, with whom the Aryans came into conflict. The *Ṛigveda* refers to the Aryan heroes as *vrātasāhaḥ* (VI.75.9). From Pāṇini it appears that the *Vrātus* lived in an elementary stage of *Saṅgha* government. The *Kāśikā* defines *Vrāta* as a *Saṅgha* living by violence (*utsedha-jīvinaḥ saṅghā vrātāḥ*, V.3.113). Pāṇini refers to *Vrāta* in a two-fold sense, the other being depredation or physical violence by which those people made a living (*Vrātena jīvati*, V.2.21), from which they were known as *Vrātīnas*. This was the general name given them by *Lāṭyāyana* also. According to Weber they were non-Brahmanical western tribes comprised of *yaudhas* or warriors (Weber, *H.I.L.*, p. 78; *Vedic Index*, II.344, agrees with this). Since Pāṇini's time up to now the predatory habits (*utsedha*) of these tribes have continued. For example, the Zakkakhel clan of the Afridis are notorious as the most active bands of thieves on the Frontier (*N.W.F.P. Gaz.*, p. 236). The *Kāśikā* explains *vrāta* as physical violence, and the word *utsedha* used there corresponds to *prasedha* of the *Lāṭyāyana Śrautasūtra* used for the Vrātyas (*Vrātyāḥ prasedhamānā yānti*, VIII.6 7; commentary, *lokam āsedhantaḥ praśayantaḥ*). The object of *sūtra* V.3.113 (*Vrāta-chphañor-astriyām*) is to regulate the formation of the names of Vrātas of which the *Kāśikā* cites two examples, viz., Kapotapākāḥ and Vrīhimatāḥ. The *Mahābhārata* regards the Dārvābhisaras and Darads as Vrātas (Droṇaparva, 93.44; Vulgate).