Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c8.95

c8.95

The difference between the Āryan and the Dasyu way of life was further brought out by indicating the relation in which the Dasyus stood to the Āryan vrata, generally meaning law or ordinance.¹ If it be possible to establish some connection between this word and vrāta, which means tribal troops or groups, it may be suggested that the term vrata probably means tribal law or usage. The Dasyus are generally described as avrata² and anyavrata.³ The word apavrata is used at two places and perhaps applies to the Dasyus and dissenting Āryans.⁴ It is notable that such adjectives are not applied to the Dāsas, which again indicates that they were more amenable to the Āryan way of life than the Dasyus.