Caste in India: The Facts and the System c7.s5.25

c7.s5.25

A domination such as the Brahmans achieved, which they were obliged to strengthen with each century, is not set up unquestioned. The care that their books take, at all times, from the Vedic hymns onwards, to establish the dogma of their superiority in the strongest and most extravagant terms, shows clearly the persevering labour that has been necessary to ensure its success. It has been correctly pointed out ¹ that a whole series of hymns of the Atharvaveda seems to reflect a period, or at least numerous examples, of conflicts between Brahmans and Kshatriyas. It is clear, moreover, that from time immemorial the power which they possessed as representatives *par excellence* of the noble class secured for the kings a position which the outward respect and superstitious docility accorded to the priests could not shake.