[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.s7.260 # Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v2.c4.s7.260 Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v2.c4.s7.260 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c4.s7.260](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s7.260) The characteristics of the several castes are given under Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya and Rājan, Vaiśya, Śūdra: they may be briefly summed up as follows: The Viś forms the basis of the state on which the Brahman and Kṣatra rest;⁶³ the Brahman and Kṣatra are superior to the Viś;⁶⁴ while all three classes are superior to the Śūdras. The real power of the state rested with the king and his nobles, with their retainers, who may be deemed the Kṣatriya element. Engaged in the business of the protection of the country, its administration, the decision of legal cases, and in war, the nobles subsisted, no doubt, on the revenues in kind levied from the people, the king granting to them villages (see Grāma) for their maintenance, while some of them, no doubt, had lands of their own cultivated for them by slaves or by tenants. The states were seemingly small:⁶⁵ there are no clear signs of any really large kingdoms, despite the mention of Mahārājas. The people, engaged in agriculture, pastoral pursuits, and trade (Vaṇij), paid tribute to the king and nobles for the protection afforded them. That, as Baden-Powell suggests,⁶⁶ they were not themselves agriculturists is probably erroneous; some might be landowners on a large scale, and draw their revenues from Śūdra tenants, or even Āryan tenants, but that the people as a whole were in this position is extremely unlikely.⁶⁷ In war the people shared the conflicts of the nobles, for there was not yet any absolute separation of the functions of the several classes. The priests may be divided into two classes—the Purohitas of the kings, who guided their employers by their counsel, and were in a position to acquire great influence in the state, as it is evident they actually did, and the ordinary priests who led quiet lives, except when they were engaged on some great festival of a king or a wealthy noble.⁶⁸ - [Previous: v2.c4.s7.259](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s7.259) - [Next: v2.c4.s7.261](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s7.261) - [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.s7.260](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s7.260) · Pramāṇa