z:\ ambedkar\vol 04\vol4 05.indd MK SJ DK YS 23 9 2013/YS 8 11 2013 191
RIDDLE NO. 16
191
The Sama-Veda has not incorporated the Purusha Sukta among its hymns. Nor does it give any other explanation of the Varna.
The Yajur-Veda has two branches—the White Yajur-Veda and the Black Yajur-Veda.
The Black Yajur-Veda is known to have three Sanhitas or collection of Mantras, the Kathaka Sanhita, the Maitriyani Sanhita and Taitterriya Sanhita.
The White Yajur-Veda has only one Sanhita which is known as Vajasaneya Sanhita.
The Maitriyani Sanhita and the Kathak Sanhita of the Black YajurVeda do not make any reference to the Purusha Sukta of the Rig-Veda; nor do they attempt to give any other explanation of the origin of the Varna system.
It is only Taitterriya Sanhita of the Black Yajur-Veda and the Vajasaneya Sanhita of the White Yajur-Veda that have spoken something relating to the Varna system.
The Vajasaneya Sanhita contains one explanation of the origin of the Varna System. The Taitterriya Sanhita on the other hand contains two explanations. There are two things to be noted about these two explanations contained in the Taitterriya Sanhita. The first is that these two do not agree with each other in the least; they are quite different. The second is that one of them agrees completely with that contained in the Vajasaneya Sanhita of the White Yajur-Veda. The following is the text of the Taitterriya Sanhita which may be taken as an independent explanation :
“He (the Vratya) became filled with passions thence sprang the Rajanya”.
“ Let the king to whose house the Vratya who knows this, comes as a guest, cause him to be respected as superior to himself. So doing he does no injury to his royal rank, or to his realm. From him arose the Brahman (Brahman) and the Kshattra (Kshatriya). They said, ‘Into whom shall we enter, etc.”
The explanation contained in the Vajasaneya Sanhita which tallies with the second [1] explanation given by the Taitterriya Sanhita reads as follows:
“He lauded with one. Living beings were formed. Prajapati was the ruler. He lauded with three: the Brahman was created: Brahmanaspati was the ruler. He lauded with five; existing things were created : Brahmanaspati was the ruler. He lauded with seven; the seven rishis were created; Dhatri was the ruler. He lauded
1 Khanda IV. Prapathaka III Verses X following