Public Administration in Ancient India c5.17

c5.17

A review of the caste-system is important to the student of ancient Indian polity in this that it affected the status of the citizens and their duties as members of the body politic. From the commencement of the Brahmanic Period until recently, the position of a man in relation to society, and his duties, both public and private, always depended more upon the importance of his class, than upon his individual capacity and character. The duties of the different castes are thus defined by Manu: of the Brāhmanas,—teaching, studying, offering sacrifices, officiating at sacrifices, charity and acceptance of gifts; of the Kshatriyas,—protection of the people, charity, performing sacrifices, study, and want of attachment to pleasures; of the Vaisyas,—cattle-rearing, agriculture, charity, performance of sacrifices, study, trade and money-lending; of the Sūdras,—service of the three orders.¹ To this list Chānakya adds agriculture, arts, and crafts as the occupations of the Sūdras;² and Vishnu mentions all industrial arts (sarva-śilpāni)³ as being within their province. In the Mahābhārata,⁴ also, similar duties are assigned to the members of the different castes.