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tion of civic life, and taught men how to cooperate with one another for mutual benefit. The country was divided into provinces, these into divisions and districts, and the districts, into towns and villages. Kings and chieftains were appointed to govern and to regulate the routine of civic life. In all this Risabha Deva was assisted by the Lord of devas, whose advice was found very valuable.
The occupations and crafts that were taught to the people comprised fighting, letters, cultivation. trades, professions (such as carpentry, goldsmith's work, and the like), and arts such as singing, dancing and painting.
Those who fought came to be known as Kshatriyas, the traders earned the title of Vaisyas, the rest were at first called jaghanyaja (small), later, avara (lowest or last), and finally Sudras. At first Vaisyas were also called by different names, such as aryya (gentle), and vanika (trader). There were no Brāhmaṇas then; all were at liberty to pursue literature and none were debarred from education. The Sudras included all those who earned their living by manual labour or handicraft, and who served the Kshatriyas and Vaisyas. Those who took to wrestling were also counted among the Sudras.
The date on which this arrangement was
