Page:The history of caste in India.pdf/152

 There are various other places where a line is drawn between Shūdra and the twice-born; but the ceremonies where the first three varnas differed are mainly those enumerated above.

The rules referred to above appear to be of considerable antiquity, and most probably they were followed. The proper observance and the maintenance of the rules rested with Brāhmanas themselves, and this is one of the strong reasons for its proper maintenance. Even to-day there is not much departure from these injunctions, though often disputes arise regarding the eligibility of certain peoples to be called Kshatriya or Vaishya.

Let us turn our attention to the rules of our text regarding the treatment of different varnas at the court. It prescribed different formalities for different varnas.