[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Vedic Index of Names and Subjects](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912) › v2.c4.s7.1456 # Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v2.c4.s7.1456 Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v2.c4.s7.1456 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c4.s7.1456](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s7.1456) It seems probable that the really important Vrātyas were those referred to as hīna, and that the other classes were only subsidiary. According to Rājarām,⁶ there were two categories of the first class: (a) The depressed (hīna), who were non-Āryan; and (b) degraded Āryans (gara-gir). This, however, is a mere guess, and devoid of probability. There seems to have been but one class of Vrātyas. That they were non-Āryan is not probable, for it is expressly said⁷ that, though unconsecrated, they spoke the tongue of the consecrated: they were thus apparently Āryans. This view is confirmed by the statement that ‘they call what is easy of utterance, difficult to utter’: probable they had already a somewhat Prakritic form of speech (cf. Vāc). The Sūtras mention their Arhants (‘saints’) and Yaudhas (‘warriors’), corresponding to the Brahminical Brāhmaṇa and Kṣatriya. - [Previous: v2.c4.s7.1455](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s7.1455) - [Next: v2.c4.s7.1457](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s7.1457) - [Up: v2.c4.s7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s7) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s7.1456](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s7.1456) · Pramāṇa