The History and Culture of the Indian People v1.c19.s2.23

v1.c19.s2.23

Though in many passages the term Dasyu is applied to super-natural enemies, there is no doubt that in several passages the term designates human foes. The main difference between the Dasyus and the Vedic Aryans appears to be religious. The Dasyus were rite-less (*a-karman*), indifferent to the gods (*a-devayu*), without devotion (*a-brahman*), not sacrificing (*a-yajvan*), lawless (*a-vrata*), following strange ordinances (*anyavrata*), reviling the gods (*deva-pīyu*), etc. Some of these epithets have been applied also to the Dāsas, as compared to whom they are less distinctively a people, as no clans (*viśaḥ*) of the Dasyus have been mentioned. Zimmer and Meyer think that the original meaning of the term Dasyu (and Dāsa) was "enemy," which later developed into "hostile country" with the Irānians, while the Indians extended the original signification of "enemy" to include demon foes. That to the Rigvedic bards there was not much difference between the Dāsas and Dasyus would be evident from their sharing some epithets in common, and also from some persons being described both as Dasyu and Dāsa, etc.