Caste and Race in India c7.21

Language: English

c7.21

The third order in society, namely the Vaiśya, figures singularly little in Vedic literature. The Aitareya Brāhmaṇa describes him as tributary to another, "to be lived upon by another," and "to be suppressed at will". Representing the common people, both the composition and the functions of this class are shadowy. According to the Taittirīya Saṃhitā, the greatest ambition of a Vaiśya was to be the "Grāmaṇī"

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Linked texts (2)

Taittirīyasaṃhitā — Sanskrit
Aitareyabrāhmaṇa — Mahidāsa Aitareya, Sanskrit