India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c8.s2.3

c8.s2.3

The growing distinction of the religious student is indicated by the emergence of a new word *Varṇī*, unknown in the Saṁhitā and Brāhmaṇa literature. Pāṇini explains it as a synonym for Brahmachārin (*Varṇād Brahmachāriṇi*, V.2.134). According to the *Kāśikā* the students of only the three upper classes (*traivarṇika*) were called *Varṇī*.