Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c8.60

c8.60

Although it has been argued that the Dāsas and Dasyus were racially not non-Ārya,² in our opinion this is far more true of the Dāsa. As will be shown later, the Dasyus are represented as speaking probably a different language and having a different life-style, which does not seem to be the case with the Dāsa. Further the Dāsas were organised into tribe called viś, which is a term used for Vedic people or tribes. Seen in this light the conflict between the Ārya and the Dāsa would appear to be the one within the fold of the Vedic tribes leading more or less the same type of life. In the numerous hymns of the Rg Veda, which are repeated in the Atharva Veda, the Āryan god Indra appears as the conqueror of the Dāsas, who mostly appear to have been human beings. It is said that Indra consigned the base Dāsa varṇa to the cave.¹ As the controller of the world, he takes upon himself the task of bringing the Dāsas into subjection,² and is asked to prepare himself for their destruction.³ The recurring theme of the Ṛg Vedic prayers to Indra is the request for the overthrow of the Dāsa tribes (viśas).⁴ Indra is also represented as having deprived the Dasyus of all good qualities, and as having subjugated the Dāsas.⁵