History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c14.s5.19

v1.c14.s5.19

सत्स्वापि अन्येषु वरगुणेषु अभिजनमेवाभिरुध्यन्ते धीमन्तः described in the Purāṇas and the Mahābhārata. We have quoted Bāṇa’s evidence on this point also. “Show me if you find such a resplendent king (like Harsha) in your vaunted solar and lunar lines.” It is clear, therefore, that the belief that certain families of Kshatriyas were solar and certain others lunar in decent is as old as Bāṇa and Harsha of 620 A. D. It is on the other hand impossible to believe that foreigners or mlechhas who came to India about 500 A. D. could have, within a hundred years, so palmed themselves off upon the people as to be looked upon as the best Kshatriyas in India. Powerful kings in India like Pratāpavardhana and others were very careful to prevent mixture of Varnas and such an event was therefore, impossible. They might have succeeded in getting into Kshatriya fold with Kshatriya names. But as Hindu society always did, they would be looked upon as one more branch of Vrātya Kshatriyas added to the hundred and one Kshatriya sub-castes guarded by marriage restriction.