The four varnas
group · 4 works · 6 mentions · 9 anchored passages
also in the atlas: The Four Varṇas the idea
varnas · Brahmana · Brāhmaṇa · Kshatriya · Kṣatriya · Rajanya · Shudra · Vaisya · Vaiśya · all classes of people
spoken of as
1 expressionFour varṇas2 mentions
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa (Sanskrit)
For that righteous-souled one shows compassion to all the four varṇas and to all four stages of life;
in the texts
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa
The fourfold social order explicitly named in the instructions for inviting and honoring guests at the sacrifice.
'Invite the kings on the earth who are righteous, and brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, and śūdras by the thousands.
'Food is to be given according to proper rule, with honour — not carelessly — so that all classes of people are duly honoured and receive their proper respect.
For that righteous-souled one shows compassion to all the four varṇas and to all four stages of life;
Atharvaveda (Paippalāda)
The four social classes named as the constituency whose combined strength supports the amulet-wearer's dominance.
Waxing strong with brāhmaṇas, rājanya warriors, and vaiśyas, with śūdras — overcome with your assembly those who make war on you.
Manusmṛti
The fourfold social order (priests, warriors, commoners, servants) whose members are subject to differentiated purification periods.
82[81M] // A Brāhmaṇa is purified in ten days, a ruler in twelve days, a Vaiśya in fifteen days, and a Śūdra is purified in a month.
Viṣṇu Smṛti
The fourfold social hierarchy (Brahmana, Kshatriya/Rajanya, Vaisya, Shudra) that structures interest rates, witness procedure, ordeal severity, and inheritance shares
The Vaiśya son, two shares.
The Vaiśya son, two shares.
For four *kṛṣṇalas*, by holding gold.