On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v1.c8.s9.2

v1.c8.s9.2

The sovereignty for many successive generations has been exercised only by Kshatriyas: rebellion and regicide have occasionally arisen, other castes assuming the distinction that is, calling themselves kings. The sovereign *de jure* Yuan-chuang thought, was always of the Kshatriya caste, and it was that caste alone which could lawfully produce a king, but there were instances of men of other castes, Śūdras for example, raising themselves to the throne.