EPIC ALLUSIONS TO CASTE
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lying, and were covetous and subsisted by all kinds of works, fell into the caste of Sudras. Being thus separated by these their works, the twice-born men became of different castes."
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SHOP OF A MERCHANT OF THE VAISYA CASTE.
Throughout the Epic Period, and throughout the succeeding periods almost to the time of the Mohammedan conquest, the great body of the Aryan people were Vaisyas, although they followed numerous professions. Along with the Brahmans and the Kshatriyas, they formed the Aryan nation, and were entitled to all the rights and privileges and the literary and religious heritages of the nation; The conquered abo-
