THE SHUDRAS : THE STORY OF RECONCILIATION 187
In the first place, the conflicts described in Chapter 9 between the Brahmins and the Shudra kings were not individual conflicts though they appear to be so. On the side of the Brahmins there is no doubt that the whole class was involved. Barring the episode relating to Vasishtha, all other episodes relate to Brahmins in general. On the side of the kings, it is true that the episodes mention individual kings as being involved in this conflict with the Brahmins. But it must not be forgotten that they all belonged to the same line to which Sudas belonged.
In so far as Sudas is concerned, the conflict was between the Brahmins and the Shudra clan of Kshatriyas. Of this, there can be no doubt. We have no direct evidence to say that the other offending kings also belonged to the Shudra clan of Kshatriyas. But we have other evidence which leads to the conclusion that they belonged to the same line of descent as Sudas.
Attention is invited to the following genealogical tree appearing overleaf which is taken from the Adi Parvan of the Mahabharata. [1]
The inter-relationship of the Kshatriya kings who came in conflict with the Brahmins throws some interesting light on the subject, Pururavas [2] is the son of Ila and the grandson of Manu Vaivasvata. Nahusha [3] is the grandson of Pururavas. Nimi [4] is one of the sons of Ikshvaku, who is the son of Manu Vivasvat. Trishanku [5] is 28th in descent from Ikshvaku. Sudas [6] is descended from Ikshvaku and is
50th in descent from him. Vena [7] is the son of Manu Vaivasvata. All of them claimed descent from Manu, some from him and some from Ikshvaku. Being descendants of Manu and Ikshvaku, it is possible to argue that they were all kindred of Sudas. Given the fact that Sudas is a Shudra, it follows logically that all these kings belonged to the Shudra group.
We have no direct evidence, but there would be nothing unnatural in supposing that in these conflicts with the Brahmins, the whole Shudra community, not merely a few Shudra kings, was involved. This conflict, it must be remembered, has taken place in the ancient past when life was tribal in thought and in action, and when the rule
1 Muir, Vol. I, p. 126
2 Muir, Vol. I, p. 126.
3 Muir Vol. I, p. 307.
4 Muir Vol. I, p. 316.
5 Muir Vol. I, p. 362.
6 Muir Vol. I, p. 362.
7 Divodasa, the father of Sudas, is spoken of in the Rig Veda as king of Purus and Purus are described as Ikshvakus.