1902.] S. C. Vidyiibhusana —Vrdtya and SamJcara Theories of Caste. 159 
In the Vedic literature, however, the word Vrdtya bears a wider 
signification. There we find that all people—whether natives of India 
or foreigners—who were not within the pale of Brahmanic civilization 
were also included among the Vratyas. In the Tandya Mahabrahmana 
of the Samaveda (chapter 17, section 4) the Kausitakis # have been spe¬ 
cially noted as Vrdtya and Yajndvahirna. The 17th chapter of the 
Tandya Mahabrahmana of the Samaveda f begins with the description 
of the following myth regarding the Vratyas :— 
“ When the Devas ascended to Svarga some of their fellow-brethren 
still wandered on earth as Vratyas. These latter being afterwards 
desirous of joining their fortunate brethren, came to the spot whence 
they had ascended to Svarga, but owing to their ignorance of the hymn 
(Vedic), they could not accomplish their object. The Devas, sympathis¬ 
ing with their less fortunate brethren, asked Maruts to teach them the 
necessary hymn. The Vratya Devas, having thus learnt the hymn 
called Sodaga with the metre called Anustuhh , ascended subsequently to 
Svarga.” 
The above, I think, is a mere allegorical way of describing how 
foreigners became from time to time incorporated in the society of 
Brahmans by learning the Vedic practices. 
I have already referred to the fact that most parts of Central and 
Western Asia were known to the Hindus. In the 5th Book of the 
Atharva-veda J we further find that to the Brahmans of ancient India* 
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