[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India)](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930) › v2.c19.140 # History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v2.c19.140 History of Dharmaśāstra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v2.c19.140 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c19.140](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v2.c19.140) One word that frequently occurs in connection with castes and sub-castes is \*varṇasaṁkara\* (or only \*saṁkara\*). In Manu X. 12 and 24 the word \*varṇasaṁkara\* is used in the plural in the sense of mixed castes, while in Manu X. 40 (and in V. 89) the word \*saṁkara\* seems to be used in the sense of 'mixture or intermingling of varṇas'. Gautama (VIII. 3) employs the word \*saṁkara\* and says 'on the two (the brāhmaṇa and the king) depends the prosperity (of men), protection, the prevention of mixture (of varṇas) and the (accumulation of) merit (or the observance of dharma).¹⁴² Nārada (strīpuṁsa 102)¹⁴³ says 'to be born from a union in the inverse order of varṇas amounts to \*varṇasaṁkara;\*' while Bṛhaspati quoted in the Kṛtyakalpataru appears to apply the word varṇasaṁkara to both anuloma and pratiloma castes. Baud.¹⁴⁴ Dh. S. (I. 9. 16) says that those who are born of varṇasaṁkara are called \*vrātyas\*. The Mit. on Yāj I. 96 applies the word varṇasaṁkara to both anuloma and pratiloma progeny. Medhātithi¹⁴⁵ on Manu V. 88 says that the word 'saṁkarajāta' indicates pratilomas like āyogava and that even though as regards anulomas there is intermingling (of varṇas), yet as they have the privileges of the caste of their mothers, even Manu himself does not apply the word \*saṁkīrṇayoni\* to them as seen above (Manu X. 25). Yama¹⁴⁶ quoted in the Kṛtyakalpataru says 'Varṇasaṁkara arises by the violation of the restrictions (about marriage); if the proper order of varṇas (i. e. male of higher varṇa marrying a woman of a lower varṇa) is followed, (the offspring) is entitled to be regarded as belonging to the system of varṇas, but if the reverse order is followed it is sin.' Manu (X. 24) says 'mixed castes arise by members of one varṇa having sexual intercourse with women of another varṇa, by marrying women who ought not to have been married (such as a sagotra girl) and by neglect of the duties peculiar to one's varṇa'. The Anuśāsanaparva 48. 1¹⁴⁷ remarks that 'varṇasaṁkara arises from wealth, greed, desires, uncertainty about the varṇa (of a person) or ignorance about varṇa'. Even in such a philosophical treatise as the Bhagavad-gītā (I. 41-43), it is said 'when women become corrupt (or demoralised), intermingling of varṇas arises; \*saṁkara\* necessarily leads the whole family and the destroyer of the family to hell. By reason of these transgressions of the destroyers of families which bring about \*varṇasaṁkara\*, the ancient caste observances and family observances are subverted.' - [Previous: v2.c19.139](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v2.c19.139) - [Next: v2.c19.141](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v2.c19.141) - [Up: v2.c19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v2.c19) ## Linked texts (6) - [Mānava Dharmaśāstra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.dharma.manu.5.89) — Manu & Bhṛgu, Sanskrit - [Baudhāyanadharmasūtra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.vedanga.kalpa.dharma.baudhayana.1.9) — Baudhāyana, Sanskrit - [Gautamadharmasūtra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.vedanga.kalpa.dharma.gautama.8.3) — Gautama (dharmasūtrakāra), Sanskrit - [Mahābhārata](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.13.48.1) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit - [Bhagavadgītā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darsana.all.gita.1.41) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit - [Nāradasmṛti](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.dharma.narada) — Nārada, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v2.c19.140](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v2.c19.140) · Pramāṇa