The Positive Background of Hindu Sociology c9.s10.17

c9.s10.17

In this connection it is worth while to call attention to a very important consideration about the concept of divinity in the Vedic *milieu*. Almost everything is often found endowed with alleged divine attributes in the *Vedas*. Everybody who is entitled to the *Srauta* sacrifice becomes divine. The status of divinity is a privilege to which the Brāhmaṇa, the Kṣatriya and the Vaiśya are entitled because of participation in the sacrifice. Only the Śūdra is to this extent disqualified. That is why one should not treat the king as specifically divine in Vedic thought.