Hindu Administrative Institutions c6.s4.24

c6.s4.24

The conception of an organism involves, above all, two things: first organs, and then the purpose which these serve. We have already said that the four varṇas are the four important organs of the body, head, hand, thighs and feet. Their respective purposiveness is the next question that needs to be answered. To a question put by Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīṣma answers: ‘The duties common to all classes of people are control of temper, love of truth, complete impartiality, all round purity of mind and body, absence of ingratitude, earning only for livelihood, and the maintenance of servants.’¹ For the Brahmans the duties are,² in addition to the practice of self-control, the earning of a livelihood by following his own caste profession and entering into a dharmic marriage and obtaining a son, the following six: namely, learning and teaching, giving and receiving gifts, performing sacrifices for themselves and for others. For the Kṣatriyas³ gifts of wealth to the deserving, non-acceptance of gifts, performance of yajñas, study of the Vedas, but not the teaching of them, protection of the subjects, constant vigilance in putting down the wicked, prowess in war, killing the evil-minded, protection of the people in their svadharma are the duties. The duties of the Vaiśyas⁴ are gifts, study of the Vedas, performance of the yajñas, purity of mind in earning wealth, agriculture, rearing of cattle, trade and commerce, etc. The Śudradharma⁵ is the service of these three classes, spending wealth in religious works, receiving gifts of clothes, money, and other presents in return for their services. To a childless and deceased Śudra his master must perform the obse-