The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c7.127

c7.127

Caste is gaining in rigour and is dominating the whole of life. The Śatapatha Brâhmaṇa dedicates the representatives of the four castes to different deities at the Puruṣamedha sacrifice.¹ It prescribes different modes of address for the different castes,² and different sizes of funeral mounds for them.³ In the Soma sacrifice the Śûdra is certainly given a place,⁴ but elsewhere it declares that he is not at all fit to be addressed by a Dîkṣita or consecrated person.⁵ Once, indeed, it seems to regard the Brâhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, and Vaiśyas as constituting the whole world and leaves Śûdras altogether out of account.⁶ Here and there it is true one meets with exceptions. Janaka, for instance, is said to have become a Brâhmaṇa.⁷ In the Bṛihadâraṇyaka Upaniṣad Ajâtaśatru is a teacher of the Brâhmaṇa Gârgya Bâlâki.⁸ But the general trend of the period is towards the consolidation of caste.