Understanding Vedic Social Groupings

Question:

The lowest social grouping based on skill, identified in the Vedas, was the

A) varna; Brahmins

B) jati; Kshatriyas

C) varna; Sudras

D) jati; Vaishyas

 

Answer:

The correct answer is C. varna; Sudras.

Description:

In the Vedic social system, the term varna refers to the four main social categories. The Sudras represent the lowest varna, traditionally associated with service and manual labor. The higher varnas include the Brahmins (priests and scholars), Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), and Vaishyas (merchants and landowners). The Sudras, therefore, are identified as the lowest social grouping in this hierarchical structure, according to Vedic texts.

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