Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c17.s2.59

c17.s2.59

Attention may no doubt be invited to the Purāṇic statement that the founder of the "Andhra" dynasty was a '*vṛishala*' (DKA, 38). But the explanation will be found in the *Mahābhārata*. The great epic (XII. 63. 1ff.) informs us that 'drawing the bowstring, destruction of enemies... are not proper (*akāryam paramam*) for a Brāhmaṇa. A Brāhmaṇa should avoid royal service (*rāja preshya*). A Brāhmaṇa who marries a Vṛishalī and takes to royal service (*rāja preshya*) and other work not legitimate for him is *akarmā*, a Brāhmaṇa so-called (*Brahma-bandhu*). He becomes a Śūdra. The Sātavāhanas actually drew the bowstring and intermarried with Dravidians and Sakas as the Mauryas had intermarried with Yavanas.