Sambodhi 2005 Vol 28

Author(s): Jitendra B Shah, K M Patel
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 35

Vol. XXVIII, 2005
KĀYASTHA - ITS EVOLUTION, A CRITICAL REVIEW
29
not been ordained. Hence Sukra seems to maintain the point that the "Sasankara' Varnas had nothing to do with the marital ties of the Yavanas. He therefore, denies the influence of Foreign elements in the Hindu Population in an epoch when Yavanas had just started infilterating into the Indian soil. Śūdraka in his Mrcchakatika Act 726 alligns Kāyasthas in line with ganikās, Hastins, bhiksus, Cātas and the Rāsabhas (donkeys). Sūdraka believes that where these abide there even villains cannot flourish. There is a variant reading "yānti” in place of Jāyante' as referred to by M. R. Kale in his notes for this passage27 In Act IX28, however, Sūdraka alligns "Kāyastha" with Sresthin as a "dvandva Samāsa". It is remarkable that in an earlier reference he treats "Kāyastha” as an ignoble being though referred to here also 'as a' Scribe 'and in' a later reference he treats him as an important person co-ordinating with a 'sbreşthi'--surrounding the Adhikārins. "Śresthì according to M. R. Kale, was the recognised Chief of the Merchants whose presence was necessary for testing ornaments, money for dealing with questions referring to mercantile law. The Kāyasthas were notaries and Attorneys says M. R. Kale29. According to Wilson they sat as Joint Assessors or Commissioners with the Judge 30 and were to be appointed from among the Brāhmanas31.
Visakhadatta in his Mudrārāksasa Act I describes Kāyastha as an insignificant being — Kāyastha' iti laghvīmātrā32. As an assessor or a notary he could not be insignificant. But since Kautilya (Cāņakya) was dealing against the allies of Raksasa the deposed Prime Minister of the Nandas, a Kayastha could hardly hold any voice against him when Räksasa and other conspirators were of no intellectual potency.
Dāmodarapura Copper plate grants of Kumāragupta I (dated 444 A. D.), (Dated 448 A. D.) those of the times of Budha Gupta dated (494-9 A. D.) and another Dämodarapura Copper plate grant dated 544 A. D. refer to "Prathama Kāyasthaśaāmbapāla”, “Viprapāla” and “Skandapāla” who were personages of repute enjoying the Patronage of the Kings. The Cāhamāna/inscriptions, the inscriptions of North Bengal refer to the “Gaua Kāyasthas”. According to Dr. D. C. Sircar, a large number of Sanskrit Praśastīs are known to have been composed by members of the non-Brāhmana Communities especially the "Kāyasthas”33, Accordingly Dr. Vasudeva Upādhyāya34 construes the etymology of “Kāyastha” as one engrossed in his frame unmindful of any other activity. Carrying on he says - the persons from all the Varnas and Jātis took up this job and in due course of time they came to be counted as a Community or class or even a caste. Dr. V.