THE SHUDRAS : THE BRAHMANIC .... ORIGIN OF THE SHUDRAS 39
a Brahman is Brihaspati. It is through the Brahman that anyone releases the Rajanya from his bond. The golden bond, a gift, manifestly releases from the bond that fetters him.”
(2) T.S., vii. 1.1.4. [1] — Prajapati desired, ‘may I propagate.’ He formed the Trivrit (stoma) from his mouth. After it were produced the deity Agni, the metre Gayatri, the Saman (called) Rathantara, of men the Brahmin, of beasts the goats. Hence they are the chief (mukhyah) because they were created from the mouth (mukhatah). From (his) breast, from his arms, he formed the Panchadasa (stoma). After it were created the god, the Indra, the Trishtubh metre, the Saman (called) Brihat, of men the Rajanya, of beasts the sheep. Hence they are vigorous, because they were created from vigour. From (his) middle he formed the Saptadasa (stoma). After it were created the gods (called) the Vishvedevas, the Jagati metre, the Saman called the Vairupa of men the Vaishya, of beasts kine. Hence they are to be eaten, because they were created from the receptacle of food. Wherefore they are more numerous than others, for the most numerous deities were created after (the Saptadasa). From his foot he formed the Ekavimsa (Stoma). After it were created the Anushtubh metre, the Saman called Vairaja, of men the Shudra, of beasts the horse. Hence these two, born the horse and the Shudra, are transporters of (other) creatures. Hence (too) the Shudra is incapacitated for sacrifice, because no deities were created after (the Ekavimsa). Hence (too) these two subsist by their feet, for they were created from the foot.
Coming to the Atharva Veda, there are altogether four explanations. One of these is the same as the Purusha Sukta of the Rig Veda. It occurs at xix.6. The others are as stated below :
(1) A.V., [2] iv.6.1.—The Brahman was born the first with ten heads and ten faces. He first drank the soma; he made poison powerless.
(2) A.V., [3] xv.8.1.—He (the Vratya) became filled with passion thence sprang the Rajanya.
(3) A.V., [4V] xv.9.1.—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 ( Brahmin ) and the Kshattra ( Kshatriya ) . They said ‘Into whom shall we enter,’ etc.
II
To proceed to the Brahmanas. The Satapatha Brahmana contains six explanations. There are two which concern themselves with the creation of the Varnas. Of the two, the one which speaks of the origin of the Shudras is given below :
S.B. [5] xiv.4.2.23.—”Brahma (here, according to the commentator, existing in the form of Agni and representing the Brahmana caste) was formerly this
1 Muir, Vol. I, p. 16. 4. Muir, Vol I, p. 22
Muir, Vol. I, p. 21 5. Muir Vol I, p. 20
Muir, Vol. I, p. 22