Vedas and Daas

A common perception is that Daas is a synonym for Shudras and Vedas call for subjugation of these Daas.

Let us explore some Vedic mantras containing ‘Daas’ in various forms and see what it actually means.

‘Daas’ as verb

Rigveda 7.1.21
May our noble warriors not become Daas or be destroyed.

Rigveda 6.5.4
One who troubles us by hiding, may he be destroyed (Abhidaasat). Here Daas appears as a verb meaning ‘to be destroyed’

Rigveda 7.104.7
May he never be benefited who wants to destroy us (Abhidaasati) with hatred.

Rigveda 10.97.23
May our enemy be destroyed who wants to destroy us (Abhidaasati).

In all these mantras, ‘Daas’ refers to destruction.

‘Das’ Dhatu or root


Many mantras use another form of Daas with root word ‘Das’

Rigveda 10.117.2
The wealth of a charitable person never gets destroyed (upadasyati)

Rigveda 5.54.7
Never does the wealth and prosperity of a person gets destroyed (upadasyanti) who is inspired by the Supreme God.

In these mantras, again ‘Daas’ refers to destruction.

It is hence clear that ‘Daas’ means something to do with destruction and hence does not mean any caste or race.

Usage of Daas word


Now let us review some mantras that contain ‘Daas’ word directly.

Rigveda 2.12.4
The Daas person or destructive person should be pulled down.

Rigveda 5.34.6
Arya should control the Daas or destructive persons.

Rigveda 6.26.5
Those Daas who destroy peace should be destroyed. Here adjective “Shambar” is used for Daas which means adversary of ‘Sham’ or peace.

Rigveda 7.19.2
Control the Daas, Shushnam (looters) and Kuyavam (terrorists) completely.

Rigveda 10.49.6
The sin-incarnate Daas be destroyed.

Rigveda 10.19.7
The Daas who is fit for being killed should be destroyed

Similarly Rigveda 4.30.15, 4.30.21 and 3.12.6 call for destruction of Daas.

It is thus clear, that Daas here refers to persons with destructive tendencies who deserve to be destroyed in any civilized society. Thus the likes of Osama Bin Laden and Kasab are Daas.

There is no reference to Shudra being a Daas in entire Vedas.

Its a matter of pity that we forgot the original message of Vedas over the course of history and literally swapped the meaning of Shudra and Daas. Thus, today, Shudra is perceived as an objectionable word while Daas denotes humility.

Nothing could be far from Vedas.

This may have happened because in the manner Europeans used to send convicts to Australia who then became a nation in itself, in similar way, when criminals were captured, they were put into various tasks. Over course of history, these Daas or their future generations continued to be called as Daas which started being understood as ’servant’.

This is also similar to the way ‘Arya’ started calling themselves ‘Hindu’ which has no reference in any authentic scripture.

In reality, Daas is synonym of Dasyu or criminal.

And Shudra is a profession category of Arya or those people who are indulged in benevolent acts. There are 36 mantras in Rigveda having ‘Arya’ word in various forms and all refer to noble righteous people.

So all good citizens of the world including Shudras are Arya!

Vedas and Shudra

A commonly held perception regarding Vedas is their prejudice against Shudras. Vedas are accused of being Brahminical texts designed to subdue the Shudras. They are considered to be the source of caste-based discrimination that is touted as the primary characteristic of Hinduism/ Sanatan Dharma or Vedic Dharma. The entire pro-Dalit movement also has its foundation on this baseless notion.

Unfortunately, nothing could be far from truth. In this series of articles, we would provide evidence from Vedas and related texts to establish the following:

a. The meaning of four Varnas and Shudra in particular is completely different from what the Macaulay inspired intellectuals would want us to believe.
b. There is absolutely no element of birth-based discrimination or denial of opportunity for any human being in Vedic way of life.
c. If there is one text that provides evidence of highest level of meritocracy and equal-opportunity, it is the Vedas. Even the most contemporary texts on human rights cannot come closer.

Before we begin our journey of solving the caste-puzzle through Vedas, let us start with certain worship mantras from Vedas that mention Shudras:

Yajurved 18.48:
O Lord! Provide enlightenment/ compassion to our Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. Provide me also with the same enlightenment so that I can see the truth.

Yajurved 20.17:
Whatever crime we have committed against my village, forest or committee; whatever crime we have committed through our organs, whatever crime we have committed against Shudras and Vaishyas, whatever crime we have done in matters of Dharma, kindly forgive us relieve us from the tendency of the same.

Yajurved 26.2:
The way I gave this knowledge of Vedas for benefit of all humans, similarly you all also propagate the same for benefit of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Shudras, Vaishyas, Women and even most downtrodden. The scholars and the wealthy people should ensure that they not deviate from this message of mine.

Atharvaved 19.32.8:
O Lord! May I be loved by everyone - Brahmin, Kshatriya, Shudra or Vaishya. May I be admired by everyone.

Atharvaved 19.62.1:
May all noble people admire me. May kings and Kshatriyas admire me. May all look at me with admiration. May the Shudras and Vaishyas admire me.

It is clear from these mantras that a Vedic person:
- seeks to be forgiven for crimes against all including Shudras
- seeks to propagate Vedas to all including Shudras
- considers all Varnas - Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra to be equal and respects them equally.

Thus it is clear that as per Vedas, Shudras deserve the same respect as other Varnas and as per Vedic prayer, Shudras are accorded great esteem.

It is also interesting that in all of these mantras, the word Shudra comes before Vaishya. So one cannot counter-argue that Shudras are given last mention or least preference.

These are sufficient evidence to conclude that Shudra, as per Vedas, imply something quite different from a caste or community that has to be discriminated against. We shall explore the meaning of Shudra and associated terms like Daas, Dasyu and Anarya, which are often confused to be synonyms, in subsequent articles.

May the truth prevail!

Ram Prasad Bismil

Inspirations from autobiography of one of the greatest legends Bharat has produced. For complete biography, please visit here

Written during his jail term, shortly before his death

Summary in English followed by Hindi text :
------------------------------------
On Mother
" I have no desire for wealth and enjoyments in this world. Only one desire - that I could have made my life successful by serving your feet. But it seems that this wish shall not come true and you will hear my death- news. Mother! I am sure you shall keep patience considering that your son gifted his life at the altars of the Mother of mothers - Bharat Mata and did not denigrate your womb.When the history of free Bharat shall be written, then in some page your name shall also be written in glowing letters. When Guru Gobind Singhji's wife heard of her sons' death, she was pleased and distributed sweets for sacrifice of her sons in path of Dharma raksha. O Mother! Bless me that my heart does not deviate even a bit till last moment and I leave this mortal body bowing to your lotus feet and remembering Paramatma"

इस संसार में मेरी किसी भी भोग-विलास तथा ऐश्‍वर्य की इच्छा नहीं । केवल एक तृष्णा है, वह यह कि एक बार श्रद्धापूर्वक तुम्हारे चरणों की सेवा करके अपने जीवन को सफल बना लेता । किन्तु यह इच्छा पूर्ण होती नहीं दिखाई देती और तुम्हें मेरी मृत्यु का दुःख-सम्वाद सुनाया जायेगा । माँ ! मुझे विश्‍वास है कि तुम यह समझ कर धैर्य धारण करोगी कि तुम्हारा पुत्र माताओं की माता - भारत माता - की सेवा में अपने जीवन को बलि-वेदी की भेंट कर गया और उसने तुम्हारी कुक्ष को कलंकित न किया, अपनी प्रतिज्ञा पर दृढ़ रहा । जब स्वाधीन भारत का इतिहास लिखा जायेगा, तो उसके किसी पृष्‍ठ पर उज्जवल अक्षरों में तुम्हारा भी नाम लिखा जायेगा । गुरु गोविन्दसिंहजी की धर्मपत्‍नी ने जब अपने पुत्रों की मृत्यु का सम्वाद सुना था, तो बहुत हर्षित हुई थी और गुरु के नाम पर धर्म रक्षार्थ अपने पुत्रों के बलिदान पर मिठाई बाँटी थी । जन्मदात्री ! वर दो कि अन्तिम समय भी मेरा हृदय किसी प्रकार विचलित न हो और तुम्हारे चरण कमलों को प्रणाम कर मैं परमात्मा का स्मरण करता हुआ शरीर त्याग करूँ ।
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Satyarth Prakash
"After that I read Satyarth Prakash. That changed everything. Study of Satyarth Prakash opened a new page in history of my life. Accordingly I started living life of Brahmcharya and transformed my health"

(To download Satyarth Prakash, click here)

"देव-मन्दिर में स्तुति-पूजा करने की प्रवृत्ति को देखकर श्रीयुत मुंशी इन्द्रजीत जी ने मुझे सन्ध्या करने का उपदेश दिया । मुंशीजी उसी मन्दिर में रहने वाले किसी महाशय के पास आया करते थे । व्यायामादि के कारण मेरा शरीर बड़ा सुगठित हो गया था और रंग निखर आया था । मैंने जानना चाहा कि सन्ध्या क्या वस्तु है । मुंशीजी ने आर्य-समाज सम्बन्धी कुछ उपदेश दिए । इसके बाद मैंने सत्यार्थप्रकाश पढ़ा । इससे तख्ता ही पलट गया । सत्यार्थप्रकाश के अध्ययन ने मेरे जीवन के इतिहास में एक नवीन पृष्‍ठ खोल दिया । मैंने उसमें उल्लिखित ब्रह्मचर्य के कठिन नियमों का पालन करना आरम्भ कर दिया । मैं कम्बल को तख्त पर बिछाकर सोता और प्रातःकाल चार बजे से ही शैया-त्याग कर देता । स्नान-सन्ध्यादि से निवृत्त हो कर व्यायाम करता, परन्तु मन की वृत्तियां ठीक न होतीं । मैने रात्रि के समय भोजन करना त्याग दिया । केवल थोड़ा सा दूध ही रात को पीने लगा । सहसा ही बुरी आदतों को छोड़ा था, इस कारण कभी-कभी स्वप्‍नदोष हो जाता । तब किसी सज्जन के कहने से मैंने नमक खाना भी छोड़ दिया । केवल उबालकर साग या दाल से एक समय भोजन करता । मिर्च-खटाई तो छूता भी न था । इस प्रकार पाँच वर्ष तक बराबर नमक न खाया । नमक न खाने से शरीर के दोष दूर हो गए और मेरा स्वास्थ्य दर्शनीय हो गया । सब लोग मेरे स्वास्थ्य को आश्‍चर्य की दृष्‍टि से देखा करते थे ।"

(To download Satyarth Prakash, click here)

----------------------------------------------------------

On Brahmcharya
"Students and their teachers should get compassionate towards situation of country and attempt to improve their character. Brahmcharya is source of all worldly powers. Without Brahmcharya human life is completely dry and untasteful. Brahmcharya creates legends whom people worship for thousands of years.

विद्यार्थियों तथा उनके अध्यापकों को उचित है कि वे देश की दुर्दशा पर दया करके अपने चरित्र को सुधारने का प्रयत्‍न करें । सार में ब्रह्मचर्य ही संसारी शक्तियों का मूल है । बिन ब्रह्मचर्य-व्रत पालन किए मनुष्य-जीवन नितान्त शुष्क तथा नीरस प्रतीत होता है । संसार में जितने बड़े आदमी हैं, उनमें से अधिकतर ब्रह्मचर्य-व्रत के प्रताप से बड़े बने और सैंकड़ों-हजारों वर्ष बाद भी उनका यशगान करके मनुष्य अपने आपको कृतार्थ करते हैं । ब्रह्मचर्य की महिमा यदि जानना हो तो परशुराम, राम, लक्ष्मण, कृष्ण, भीष्म, ईसा, मेजिनी बंदा, रामकृष्ण, दयानन्द तथा राममूर्ति की जीवनियों का अध्ययन करो ।
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 days before hanging
LAST WISH

Currently Bharat's situation is very deplorable. hence many births would be required in Bharat.

Till all Bharatvasi do not become completely independent, I pray to Paramatma to give me birth in this country so that I am able to propagate His message - The Vedas - to every human being.

वर्तमान समय में भारतवर्ष की अवस्था बड़ी शोचनीय है । अतःएव लगातार कई जन्म इसी देश में ग्रहण करने होंगे और जब तक कि भारतवर्ष के नर-नारी पूर्णतया सर्वरूपेण स्वतन्त्र न हो जाएं, परमात्मा से मेरी यह प्रार्थना होगी कि वह मुझे इसी देश में जन्म दे, ताकि उसकी पवित्र वाणी - 'वेद वाणी' का अनुपम घोष मनुष्य मात्र के कानों तक पहुंचाने में समर्थ हो सकूं ।

Let us vow to bring alive that Bismil in each of us. Read his complete autobiography here.

Women in Vedas

Women are accorded the greatest respect in Vedas. Still, ignorant semi-literate communists keep propagating the false propaganda that Vedas demean women. Presented here are verses from Vedas obtained from texts of most learned scholars in this field to establish the truth.

Atharva Ved

Atharva 11.5.18

In this mantra of Brahmcharya Sukta, it is emphasized that girls too should train themselves as students and only then enter into married life. The Sukta specifically emphasizes that girls should receive the same level of training as boys.

(Book: Mera Dharma, Author: Priyavrat Vedavachaspati, Gurukul Kangri University)

Chapter 1: Women in Vedic Dharma, Page 8

Girls should train themselves to become complete scholars and youthful through Brahmcharya and then enter married life.

(Atharvaveda-Hindi Bhashya, Part 2, Author: Kshemkarandas Trivedi, Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Delhi, Page 413-414)

Atharva 14.1.6

Parents should gift their daughter intellectuality and power of knowledge when she leaves for husband’s home. They should give her a dowry of knowledge.

(Book: Mera Dharma, Author: Priyavrat Vedavachaspati, Gurukul Kangri University)

Chapter 1: Women in Vedic Dharma, Page 8,9

When girls ignore external objects and develops foresight and vibrant attitude through power of knowledge, she becomes provider of wealths of skies and earth. Then she should marry an eligible husband.

(Atharvaveda-Hindi Bhashya, Part 2, Author: Kshemkarandas Trivedi, Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Delhi, Page 654)

Atharva 14.1.20

Oh wife! Give us discourse of knowledge

(Book: Mera Dharma, Author: Priyavrat Vedavachaspati, Gurukul Kangri University)

Chapter 1: Women in Vedic Dharma, Page 9

The bride may please everyone at her husband’s home through her knowledge and noble qualities.

(Atharvaveda-Hindi Bhashya Part 2, Author: Kshemkarandas Trivedi, Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Delhi, Page 660)

Atharva 7.46.3

Teach the husband ways of earning wealth

(Book: Mera Dharma, Author: Priyavrat Vedavachaspati, Gurukul Kangri University)

Chapter 1: Women in Vedic Dharma, Page 9

Protector of children, having definite knowledge, worth thousands of prayers and impressing all directions, O women, you accept prosperity. O wife of desrving husband, teach your husband to enhance wealth.

(Atharvaveda-Hindi Bhashya Part 1, Author: Kshemkarandas Trivedi, Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Delhi, Page 804)

Similar meaning

(Book: Atharvaved ka subodh bhashya (7-10 chapters), Author: Sripad Damodar Satvalekar, Page 97)