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# Vaishyas: the class of people undertaking trade, commerce and agriculture.  

# Vaishyas: the class of people undertaking trade, commerce and agriculture.  

# Shudras: the class of people rendering another essential services to the society.  

# Shudras: the class of people rendering another essential services to the society.  

But, this division was on functional basis and did not determine the superiority or inferiority of an individual by birth. For instance, Rshi Valmiki, the composer of one of the two great Itihasas, the Ramayana, who is held in the highest esteem down to this day by all sections of the society, belonged to the fourth varna. This is also true in the case of Shri Rama and Shri Krishna. Belonging to the Kshatriya varna, because of his superb qualities as a human being and as an ideal ruler, Shri Rama has won a place in the hearts of one and all for ever. And So has Shri Krishna, the greatest of diplomats and warriors, and a great teacher, being the propounder of the immortal Bhagvad Gita. They are both adored and worshipped by all sections of the society as avataras of the Supreme Being Himself. Therefore, discrimination of any kind is contrary to Dharma. It is really Adharma.

But, this division was on functional basis and did not determine the superiority or inferiority of an individual by birth. For instance, Rshi Valmiki, the composer of one of the two great Itihasas, the Ramayana, who is held in the highest esteem down to this day by all sections of the society, belonged to the fourth varna. This is also true in the case of Shri Rama and Shri Krishna. Belonging to the Kshatriya varna, because of his superb qualities as a human being and as an ideal ruler, Shri Rama has won a place in the hearts of one and all for ever. And so has Shri Krishna, the greatest of diplomats and warriors, and a great teacher, being the propounder of the immortal Bhagvad Gita. They are both adored and worshipped by all sections of the society as avataras of the Supreme Being Himself. Therefore, discrimination of any kind is contrary to Dharma. It is really Adharma.

In fact, the Vyasa Smrti expressly provided that if at all there seems to be a conflict between the provisions in the vedas (shruti) and those in smrtis or puranas (including custom or usage) what is declared in the veda alone should be accepted. The provisions in the smrtis or custom, which ran counter to the Shruti were to be regarded as invalid being opposed to the Shruti. The directive to set aside things inconsistent with Dharma, which alone is of eternal value is mentioned in Manusmrti as follows,<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>परित्यजेदर्थकामौ यौ स्यातां धर्मवर्जितौ । धर्मं चाप्यसुखोदर्कं लोकसंक्रुष्टं एव च । । ४.१७६ । ।<ref>Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 4].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''parityajēdarthakāmau yau syātāṁ dharmavarjitau । dharmaṁ cāpyasukhōdarkaṁ lōkasaṁkruṣṭaṁ ēva ca । । 4.176 । ।''</blockquote>Meaning: Discard wealth (artha) or desire (kama) if it is contrary to Dharma, as also any usage, custom or rule regarded as source of Dharma if at any time they were to lead to unhappiness or arouse people's indignation.

In fact, the Vyasa Smrti expressly provided that if at all there seems to be a conflict between the provisions in the vedas (shruti) and those in smrtis or puranas (including custom or usage) what is declared in the veda alone should be accepted. The provisions in the smrtis or custom, which ran counter to the Shruti were to be regarded as invalid being opposed to the Shruti. The directive to set aside things inconsistent with Dharma, which alone is of eternal value is mentioned in Manusmrti as follows,<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>परित्यजेदर्थकामौ यौ स्यातां धर्मवर्जितौ । धर्मं चाप्यसुखोदर्कं लोकसंक्रुष्टं एव च । । ४.१७६ । ।<ref>Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 4].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''parityajēdarthakāmau yau syātāṁ dharmavarjitau । dharmaṁ cāpyasukhōdarkaṁ lōkasaṁkruṣṭaṁ ēva ca । । 4.176 । ।''</blockquote>Meaning: Discard wealth (artha) or desire (kama) if it is contrary to Dharma, as also any usage, custom or rule regarded as source of Dharma if at any time they were to lead to unhappiness or arouse people's indignation.

At a still later point of time, in the long meandering course of our history, society got divided into innumerable castes and sub-castes on the basis of occupations, vocations, trade or business. The evil of discrimination as high and low among men, on the basis of birth, hereditary avocations and other considerations raised its ugly head and the detrimental practice of untouchability with all its degrading implications came into existence. However, social reformers have fought against these evils which were afflicting society. And in spite of such divisive and undesirable customs, the love for the country and its culture, the common heritage and aspirations of our people, and the basic tenets of dharma have held us together and there has always been unity despite diversity in the country. This was refurbished during our struggle for freedom when everyone fought for it unitedly.<ref name=":2" />  

At a still later point of time, in the long meandering course of our history, society got divided into innumerable castes and sub-castes on the basis of occupations, vocations, trade or business. The evil of discrimination as high and low among men, on the basis of birth, hereditary avocations and other considerations raised its ugly head and the detrimental practice of untouchability with all its degrading implications came into existence. However, social reformers have fought against these evils which were afflicting society. And in spite of such divisive and undesirable customs, the love for the country and its culture, the common heritage and aspirations of our people, and the basic tenets of dharma have held us together and there has always been unity despite diversity in the country. This was refurbished during our struggle for freedom when everyone fought for it unitedly.<ref name=":2" />  

=== GRATITUDE (Krtajnata) ===

=== कृतज्ञता || Gratitude ===

To have a feeling of gratitude towards persons and other living beings who/which have been helpful to us, is another value of our national life. It is this feeling which is the basis ~ custom of worshipping animals, and plants as also Ayudha Pooja, i.e., worshipping one day in year all the implements or instruments through which we earn our lively hood. It is the same feeling which had led to the prohibition of slaughter of cows, calves, oxen, bullocks -as the cows give milk which sustains us, from childhood till death. We worship the cow as 'Gomata' (Mother Cow). Kautilya in his Artha Sastra made a specific provision banning cow slaughter. It reads:<blockquote>वत्सो वृषो धेनुश्चैषामवध्याः | ''vatso vr̥ṣo dhenuścaiṣāmavadhyāḥ |''</blockquote>Meaning: Cattle such as calves, bulls or cows, shall not be slaughtered.

To have a feeling of gratitude towards people and other living beings who have been helpful to us, is another value of our national life. It is this feeling which is the basis of the custom of worshipping animals, plants as also Ayudha Pooja, i.e. worshipping, one day in year, all the implements or instruments through which we earn our livelihood. It is the same feeling of Krtajnata that also led to the prohibition of slaughter of cows, calves, oxen and bullocks. Because cows give milk that sustains us from childhood till death. This is one of the reason that the cow is worshipped as 'Gomata' (Mother Cow). In fact, Kautilya in his Arthashastra has made a specific provision banning cow slaughter. It reads,<blockquote>वत्सो वृषो धेनुश्चैषामवध्याः | ''vatso vr̥ṣo dhenuścaiṣāmavadhyāḥ |''</blockquote>Meaning: Cattle such as calves, bulls or cows, shall not be slaughtered.

 

Yajnavalkya Smriti (VI 234) also declared Govadha (Killing of a cow) as an offence. <blockquote>गोवधो व्रात्यता स्तेयं ऋणानां चानपाक्रिया । अनाहिताग्नितापण्य विक्रयः परिदेवनम् । । ३.२३४ । ।<ref>Yajnavalkya Smrti, Prayashchitta Adhyaya, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Prayashchitta Prakarana.]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''govadho vrātyatā steyaṁ r̥ṇānāṁ cānapākriyā । anāhitāgnitāpaṇya vikrayaḥ paridevanam । । 3.234 । ।''</blockquote>It is this value which has found its way into article 48 of the Constitution of Bharat, which makes it obligatory for the state to make a law prohibiting cow slaughter.

=== Compassion ===

=== Compassion ===

To have compassion towards all living beings, including human beings was considered as the root of 'Dharma' .Every one was asked to look towards other living beings as his ownself (Atmavat Sarvabhutanam). The Smritis declared that cruelty to animals was a punishable offence. There is also a custom to give a weekly holiday to bullocks. In the Mahabharatha, Raja Rantideva, declares:<blockquote>कामये दुःखतप्तानां प्रानिनामार्तिनाशनम् | ''kāmaye duḥkhataptānāṁ prānināmārtināśanam |''</blockquote>Meaning: My desire (as the) highest Dharma is to wipe out the tears from the eyes of living beings in distress.

To have compassion towards all living beings, including human beings was considered as the root of 'Dharma' .Every one was asked to look towards other living beings as his ownself (Atmavat Sarvabhutanam). The Smritis declared that cruelty to animals was a punishable offence. There is also a custom to give a weekly holiday to bullocks. In the Mahabharatha, Raja Rantideva, declares:<blockquote>कामये दुःखतप्तानां प्रानिनामार्तिनाशनम् | ''kāmaye duḥkhataptānāṁ prānināmārtināśanam |''</blockquote>Meaning: My desire (as the) highest Dharma is to wipe out the tears from the eyes of living beings in distress.