The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c19.s9.202

v1.c19.s9.202

On the other hand, a great many passages from both Jātaka and other canonical books might be quoted to show that the four 'colours' are on the whole to be taken in no stricter sense than we speak of 'lords and commons,' 'noblesse, église, tiers-état,' 'upper, middle, lower classes.' That Brāhmans claimed credit if born of Brāhmans on both sides for generations back³, betrays the existence of many born from a less pure 'connubium.' In the *Kusa Jātaka*, a Brāhman takes to wife the childless chief wife of a king without 'losing caste' thereby⁴. Elsewhere in the Jātaka-book princes, Brāhmans, Seṭṭhis are shown forming friendships, sending their sons to the same teacher, and even eating together and intermarrying, without incurring any social stigma or notoriety as innovators or militants⁵. The following instances may be quoted:—