Page:The history of caste in India.pdf/163



Wherever in the world, phenomena resembling caste are found, there is always a tendency toward maintaining a strong barrier shutting the men of the lower group from the women of the higher group. This barrier often consists of laws, public opinion and perverted ethics. Sentiments maintaining such a barrier are clearly expressed in the rules which all writers on dharma, including our text, give, regarding marriage, courtship, illicit intercourse, and outrage on the woman.

Our text generally approves of a marriage with a person of the same varna, but does not entirely forbid a marriage outside the varna, as later writers have done.

"A Shūdra woman alone (may be) the wife of a Shūdra, She and one of his own (varna, the wives) of a Vaishya. Those two and one of his own (varna, the wives) of a Kshatriya. Those three and one of his own (varna) wives of a Brāhmana."

"A Shūdra woman is not mentioned even in any ancient story (Vrittanta) as the first wife of a Brāhmana or of a Kshatriya, though they lived in great distress."