Some Pre-Epic Period Tribes

[DrRajpalSingh]

So far as the uses of the words 'Arya' and 'Dasyu' are concerned, they are used in the ethnic sense in the Rigveda. But in post Rig vedic literature which had been composed after the Aryans had arrived in India, the use of the word meaning of 'Arya' changed to denote 'Master.'

According to Panini (III.1.103) 'Arya' means swami i.e. 'master' as well as 'vaisya'. So when Arya is not used in the sense of 'Vaisya', it denotes the first three varanas i.e. Brahmin, Kshatriya and Vaishya--not because they are Aryan in blood, but because they are 'masters', that is to say, 'freemen', and not slaves.

Thanks.

contd. from the last post....

By the time Kautilya authored his book, the meaning of the term Arya and the term Sudra had altogether changed from the initial meaning and had lost attachment to any ethnic significance.

This is evident from the following passages of Kautilya's Arthsastra [III.13] wherein even a Sudra Freeman is classed as an 'Arya' :

''The selling or mortgaging by kinsmen of the life of a Sudra, who is not a born slave, and has not attained majority, but is an Arya in birth, shall be punished, with a fine of 12 panas; of a Vaisya, 24 panas; of a Kshatriya, 36 panas; and of a Brahman, 48 panas. ''
It is also stated by Kautilya that ''Deceiving a slave of his money or depriving him of the privileges he can exercise as an Arya [Aryabhava] shall be punished with half the fine [levied for enslaving the life of an Arya.''

''The offspring of a man who has sold himself as a slave shall be an Arya. A slave shall be entitled to enjoy not only whatever he has earned without prejudice to his master's work, but also the inheritance he has received from his father.''

''On paying the value a slave shall regain his Aryahood. The same shall apply either to born or pledged slaves.'' Kautilya, Arthasastra, English Tr. pp. 230-32.

Of course, this post contains what Panini and Kautilya shed light on the use of the word Arya and the word Dasa; but the initial stage puzzle remains to be solved. Therefore,
the learned participants are requested to comment on the use of the words as made in Rig Veda and Avesta for the people residing in olden times Aryavarata, as we have not been able to lay our hands on the needed data for the same.

Thanks