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Institution of Class and Order
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these works, at times, give stress on action rather than on descent as the cause of ones greatness has nothing extraordinary about it. For, we mect with similar views in the Brahmanical sources not infrequently 60 Such exhortations are to be taken as forming checks on the members of the different classes and castes against the violation of the duties devolved on them through descent But even if a member of a particular class did not possess the class characteristics, he was not considered as excommunicated from his class of birth Thus, while laying down conditions for Brāhmanahood, Jinasena does not sidetrack birth as a deciding factor of one's class Instead, he impliedly acknowledges thc hereditary nature of one's class by holding that if a Brāhmana be devoid of austerity and learning, he, then, must be looked upon as a Brahmana only by birth 01
Rights and Duties of the Varnas
As is evident from the preceding accounts, the main duties of the Ksatriyas were the protection of the masses and the conduct of war They were entitled to the statutory sacraments for attaining Doryahood Performance of non-injurious sacrifices, giving gifts to the deserving persons, study and worship were their cultural and religious activities Besides, eligibility for rulership and Jra-hood" was their special privilege
Cattle-breeding, cultivation and trade and commerce were the special duties of the Varsyas. Like the Ksatriyas, the Varsyas are also allowed to observe the sacraments Thus, as
60 Sec, for example, MBH III 180 20-87, 181.42-43, 216 12-16, which
state that the Varna of an individual is to be judged by his action and
not by his birth 61. तपः श्रुतञ्च जातिश्च त्रय ब्राह्मण्यकारणम् । तप'श्रुताभ्या यो हीनो जातिब्राह्मण एव स ॥
-MP 38 43 cf Mahābhārata (III 216 13-15), which goes stall further in denouncing a Brahmana without good deeds as a Sūdra It states in clcar terms that the Brāhmana who is vain and baughty, who is sinful and cyıl-minded and who indulgcs in degraded actions is
no better than südra " 62 According to the Jaina belief, no Jipa was born in a class other than
Ksatriya
