ERADICATION OF UNTOUCHABILITY But

purusha Sukta of Rig Veda Brahmanas represent the mouth of Purusha, the
Kshatriyas his arms, the vaisya his thighs and Sudra his feet. MANlJ also holds
that the four Varna proceeded from the limbs of the creator. According to the
Manu Smrti the four Varnas are Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaisya and ~udra.'
'According to Kautilya, the duty of the Urahmana is study, teaching.
performance of sacrifice, officiating in others sacrificial perfornmance and thc
receiving of gifts.
That of Kshatriya is study, performanct: of' SacrilTce, giving gifis,
military occupation and protection of life.
That of Vaisya is study, performance of sacrifice, giving gifts.
agriculture, cattle breeding and trade.
That of Sudra is the serving of the twice born (dvijati), agriculture. cattle
breeding and trade, the profession of artisans and court-bards"
131
In those days the Varna Dharma was in co~limand and no one dared to
question its autocratic status since every one was under the spell of the Theory
of ~arrna'. The theory of Karma is the contribution of Brahmins and there is
no doubt about it.
Varnasrama - dharma, no doubt, had put a stumbling block to their
thinking faculty and this had led to the passing of certain cruel, inhuman and
barbaric laws against the Sudras. The Sudras were treated as inanimate things.