Public Administration in Ancient India c5.12

c5.12

During this time other factors were at work to introduce social distinctions into the Āryan community itself. As civilisation grew, the needs of life became more varied and complex, and this necessitated a division of duties among the people. The continuous and unceasing struggle with the aboriginal races compelled the Āryas to set apart the hardiest portion of their community for the exclusive occupation of war. Then, as engagement in warfare was found incompatible with devotion to learning and the arts of peace, the most intellectual among the Āryas formed themselves into a separate class, while the general mass of the people began to devote their energies exclusively to agriculture, industry, and trade. The members of a clan were originally designated by the collective name of *vis*, but in the course of time this name was reserved for the common people, while those who distinguished themselves either in learning or in war were raised above the general level, and became Brāhmanas and Kshatriyas (or Rājanyas). Lastly, those among the Dasyus who submitted to the Āryan conquerors and were admitted into the pale of Āryan society came to be known as Sūdras. Thus arose the caste-system.