[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [Vada in Theory and Practice: Studies in Debates, Dialogues and Discussions in Indian Intellectual Discourses](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.tripathi-2021) › c9.s2 # Vada in Theory and Practice: Studies in Debates, Dialogues and Discussions in Indian Intellectual Discourses c9.s2: Vajrasūcī and the Debate on the Caste System Vāda in Theory and Practice: Studies in Debates, Dialogues and Discussions in Indian Intellectual Discourses c9.s2 - **Language:** English ### Vajrasūcī and the Debate on the Caste System ### [c9.s2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.tripathi-2021.c9.s2.1) \*Vajrasūcī\* of Aśvaghoṣa (see Chap. 2) is an essay in refutation of caste system. Aśvaghoṣa takes the following stands and refutes them one by one: 1. The \*jīva\* (individual soul) is brāhmaṇa, 2. a person becomes a brāhmaṇa by birth, 3. a particular human body is brāhmaṇa, 4. because of knowledge one can become a brāhmaṇa, 5. the conduct of a person makes him a brāhmaṇa, 6. the good deeds of a person make him a brāhmaṇa, and 7. the knowledge of Veda makes a person brāhmaṇa. ### [c9.s2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.tripathi-2021.c9.s2.2) After giving reasons for the rejection of these views, Aśvaghoṣa presents his own thesis about what-makes one a brāhmaṇa. Accordingly, it is the spiritual attainment of a person that endows him with brāhmaṇahood. He also describes the process of observing rigorous vows and austerities, etc. that leads to this attainment. He then rejects \*cāturvarṇya\* — the fourfold division of society into castes — acknowledging that a man is born with only one \*varṇa\*. ### [c9.s2.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.tripathi-2021.c9.s2.3) Aśvaghoṣa cites verses from \*Śukra\* and \*Mānava Dharmaśāstra\* to support his argument. \*Vajrasūcyopaniṣad\* is a later text composed in Upaniṣadic style, it only repeats Aśvaghoṣa’s arguments. ### [c9.s2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.tripathi-2021.c9.s2.4) \*Laghuṭaṅka\*, a text written by Paṇḍit Subaji Bapu, is a rejoinder to \*Vajrasūcī\*. The author perhaps lived at Sehore near Bhopal and he prepared this rejoinder out of the discussions held in an assembly chaired by Wilkinson.¹¹ ## Linked texts (2) - [Mānava Dharmaśāstra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.dharma.manu) — Manu & Bhṛgu, Sanskrit - [Vajrasūcī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.darsana.vada.vajrasuci) — Aśvaghoṣa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.tripathi-2021.c9.s2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.tripathi-2021.c9.s2) · Pramāṇa