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===Rig Veda===

===Rig Veda===

''Dasa'' and related words such as ''Dasyu'' are found in the Rig Veda. They have been variously translated, depending on the context. These words represent in some context represent "disorder, chaos and dark side of human nature", and the verses that use the word ''dasa'' mostly contrast it with the concepts of "order, purity, goodness and light."<ref name=bw/> In other contexts, the word ''dasa'' refers to enemies and in other contexts, those who had not adopted the Vedic beliefs.<ref>[[R. C. Majumdar]] and A. D. Pusalker (editors): ''[[The History and Culture of the Bharat's People]]. Volume I, The Vedic age''. Bombay : Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan 1951, p.253. Keith and Macdonell 1922, ISBN 978-8172764401</ref>

''Dasa'' and related words such as ''Dasyu'' are found in the Rig Veda. They have been variously translated, depending on the context. These words represent in some context represent "disorder, chaos and dark side of human nature", and the verses that use the word ''dasa'' mostly contrast it with the concepts of "order, purity, goodness and light." In other contexts, the word ''dasa'' refers to enemies and in other contexts, those who had not adopted the Vedic beliefs.<ref>[[R. C. Majumdar]] and A. D. Pusalker (editors): ''[[The History and Culture of the Bharat's People]]. Volume I, The Vedic age''. Bombay : Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan 1951, p.253. Keith and Macdonell 1922, ISBN 978-8172764401</ref>

====Dasa with the meaning of savage, barbarians====

====Dasa with the meaning of savage, barbarians====

==Views of Sri Aurobindo==

==Views of Sri Aurobindo==

Authors like [[Sri Aurobindo]] believe that words like Dasa are used in the Rig Veda symbolically and should be interpreted spiritually, and that Dasa does not refer to human beings, but rather to demons who hinder the spiritual attainment of the mystic. Many Dasas are purely mythical and can only refer to demons. There is for example a Dasa called Urana with 99 arms (RV II.14.4), and a Dasa with six eyes and three heads in the Rig Veda.<ref>Parpola 1988, Sethna 1992:329</ref>

Authors like [[Sri Aurobindo]] believe that words like Dasa are used in the Rig Veda symbolically and should be interpreted spiritually, and that Dasa does not refer to human beings, but rather to demons who hinder the spiritual attainment of the mystic. Many Dasas are purely mythical and can only refer to demons. There is for example a Dasa called Urana with 99 arms (RV II.14.4), and a Dasa with six eyes and three heads in the Rig Veda.

Aurobindo<ref>Sethna 1992:114 and 340, Aurobindo, The Secret of the Veda, p. 220-21</ref> commented that in the RV III.34 hymn, where the word Arya varna occurs, Indra is described as the increaser of the thoughts of his followers: "the shining hue of these thoughts, sukram varnam asam, is evidently the same as that sukra or sveta Aryan hue which is mentioned in verse 9. Indra carries forward or increases the "colour" of these thoughts beyond the opposition of the Panis, pra varnam atiracchukram; in doing so he slays the Dasyus and protects or fosters and increases the Aryan "colour", hatvi dasyun pra aryam varnam avat."<ref>Sethna 1992:114 and 340</ref>

Aurobindo<ref>Sethna 1992:114 and 340, Aurobindo, The Secret of the Veda, p. 220-21</ref> commented that in the RV III.34 hymn, where the word Arya varna occurs, Indra is described as the increaser of the thoughts of his followers: "the shining hue of these thoughts, sukram varnam asam, is evidently the same as that sukra or sveta Aryan hue which is mentioned in verse 9. Indra carries forward or increases the "colour" of these thoughts beyond the opposition of the Panis, pra varnam atiracchukram; in doing so he slays the Dasyus and protects or fosters and increases the Aryan "colour", hatvi dasyun pra aryam varnam avat."<ref>Sethna 1992:114 and 340</ref>