sanatana dharma has nothing to do with caste
Aravinda Rao
Ramanath Pandey
Deasr Prof Rao
Sanatana Dharma is fundamentally based not on caste, but on dharma (righteousness), truth, compassion, self-development, and the realization of the Divine. Its principal scriptures associate a person's spiritual standing not with birth, but with one's qualities, actions, and conduct. Therefore, the eternal principles of Sanatana Dharma are rooted in the equality of all souls and the recognition of divinity in all beings, rather than in caste-based discrimination.
At the same time, it is also true from a historical perspective that the caste system has been a long-standing social reality in Indian society and has often been closely associated with religion. Therefore, while it may be valid from a philosophical or spiritual standpoint to say that "Sanatana Dharma has nothing to do with caste," the issue is more complex when viewed through a historical and sociological lens.
In summary:
At the spiritual level: The soul is neither defined nor limited by caste or birth.
At the socio-historical level: The caste system has been an influential institution in Indian society and, at various times, has been supported or justified through religious interpretations.
A balanced conclusion would be:
"The core message of Sanatana Dharma is the unity of the soul, righteous living, and moral excellence. Caste is not an essential spiritual principle of Sanatana Dharma, but rather a historical and social institution that developed within Indian society over time."
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Aravinda Rao
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Ramanath Pandey
Subject: Re: Reflections on Sanatana Dharma and Humanity
Dear Dr. Aravinda Rao ji,
Namaskars.
Thank you for your thoughtful message and for sharing your reflections. I greatly appreciate your observations regarding the self-correcting spirit present in our scriptural traditions. As you rightly point out, episodes such as Nahusha's discourse on the true nature of a Brahmin and Narada's guidance to King Prachinabarhi regarding ritual animal sacrifice illustrate that our sacred texts have consistently encouraged ethical reflection, reform, and a deeper understanding of dharma.
It is indeed unfortunate that many contemporary discussions reduce Sanatana Dharma merely to the issue of caste, overlooking its profound philosophical, ethical, and spiritual dimensions. Equally regrettable is the fact that the universal and corrective teachings embedded in our scriptures are often not sufficiently highlighted, allowing misconceptions and divisive narratives to flourish.
In my humble understanding, the essence of what is truly "Sanātana" is not confined to any particular religion, community, or historical tradition. Rather, it is rooted in eternal human values such as truth, compassion, non-violence, forgiveness, and mutual respect.
Interestingly, both Hindu and Buddhist traditions use the expression "Sanātana Dharma" or "eternal law" in this universal sense.
The Dhammapada (Yamakavagga, verse 5) declares:
"Na hi verena verāni, sammantīdha kudācanaṃ;
Averena ca sammanti, esa dhammo sanantano."
"Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world; it is appeased only by non-hatred (love and forgiveness). This is the eternal law (Sanātana Dharma)."
Similarly, Manusmṛti (4.138) teaches:
"Satyaṃ brūyāt priyaṃ brūyān na brūyāt satyam apriyam;
Priyaṃ ca nānṛtaṃ brūyād eṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ."
"Speak the truth; speak it pleasantly. Do not speak an unpleasant truth merely to hurt others, nor speak a pleasant falsehood. This is the eternal dharma."
What is remarkable is that both these texts identify Sanātana Dharma not with a particular social identity, ritual, or sectarian affiliation, but with universal ethical principles governing human conduct. Love over hatred, truth tempered with kindness, and harmony over conflict are presented as eternal values.
Therefore, in my view, any religion—whether Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh, or any other—may be regarded as embodying the spirit of Sanātana Dharma when it upholds these universal human values. Whenever religion nurtures compassion, truth, justice, and respect for fellow beings, it reflects the eternal principles that sustain humanity. Conversely, when it becomes a source of hatred, exclusion, or violence, it departs from its own highest ideals.
The great wisdom traditions of the world may differ in doctrine and practice, yet they converge in their aspiration to elevate human consciousness and promote harmony. Humanity itself, therefore, is the common ground upon which authentic spirituality stands.
Thank you also for your dedicated work in the study and teaching of Advaita Vedanta. I look forward to continuing this enriching dialogue.
With warm regards,
Dr. Ramanath Pandey
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Rajaram Krishnamurthy
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लोकेश
Abhishek Mehta
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Rajaram Krishnamurthy
Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
The ‘birth’ that the Boy obtains from his Preceptor is however indestructible. When the Veda has been got up and its meaning duly comprehended, then alone is one enabled to perform religious acts, by which he obtains Heaven and Final Release; and since all this is due to the Preceptor, he is superior.
‘That birth which the Preceptor brings about’—i.e., the sacramental rite called ‘Upanayana’ ‘initiation,’ which is called the ‘second birth,’ which he accomplishes—‘by means of the Sāvitrī’—i.e., by the expounding of it;—‘that’—birth—‘imperishable, immortal.’ Though all these words mean the same thing, yet they have been used with a view to pointing out that the ‘birth’ named ‘Initiation’ is superior to that which one obtains from his mother. As a matter of fact, ‘perishing’ and ‘death’ are not possible for ‘birth,’ as they are in the case of living beings; if mere ‘indestructibility’ were meant, this could have been expressed by means of a single word; and yet this is not what is done (which shows that the meaning is as explained above).
The construction of the sentence is as follows:—‘Vedapāraga ācāryo yāñjātim vidhivat sāvitryā—i.e., by means of the full details of the Initiatory Rite, which is what is indicated by the term sāvitrī—utpādayati—is what is superior.’ ‘Jāti’ stands for ‘janma,’ birth.—(148)
KR IRs 3626
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Aravinda Rao
माणवकस्य आकृतिवर्णोच्चारणादि परीक्षणेन सावित्र्या = गायत्रीमन्त्रप्रदानद्वारा यां ब्राह्मणत्वादिजातिम् उत्पादयति = प्रकटयति, सैव जातिः सत्या = यथार्था विज्ञेया, सैवाजरामरा = शास्वतीचेत्यर्थः। अतः ब्राह्मणत्वादिरूपैव जातिरत्र विवक्षिता । सा नैव जन्मतः सिद्धा, किन्त्वाचार्येण जन्यते।
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लोकेश
Abhishek Mehta
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Abhishek Mehta
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Aravinda Rao
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Ramanath Pandey
Literal Explanation
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न च शूद्रस्य वेदाध्ययनमस्ति
- "Nor does a Śūdra have entitlement to Vedic study."
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उपनयनपूर्वकत्वाद्वेदाध्ययनस्य
- "Because the study of the Vedas is dependent upon (or preceded by) the Upanayana initiation."
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उपनयनस्य च वर्णत्रयविषयत्वात्
- "And because the Upanayana ceremony is prescribed only for the three varṇas."
Academic Rendering
"According to the traditional Dharmashastric view, a Śūdra is not entitled to Vedic study, since Vedic learning requires prior initiation through the Upanayana rite, and that rite is regarded as applicable only to the three twice-born classes—Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, and Vaiśyas."
This translation reflects the classical orthodox position expressed in certain Dharmashastra and Mimamsa texts. It describes a historical doctrinal viewpoint and should not be taken as representative of all Hindu traditions or later reformist interpretations.
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Sane Sun
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लोकेश
> It is like saying that Modi cannot be a pujari but he can be a Prime Minister.
The aim of the adhikarana is to restrict access to sudra as clearly started in the beginning (शूद्रस्याप्यधिकारः स्यादित्येतामाशङ्कां निवर्तयितुमिदमधिकरणमारभ्यते). Then begins the पूर्वपक्ष arguing for inclusion of शूद्र in learning ब्रह्मविद्या. The पूर्वपक्ष provides various arguments for it such as - sudras have both the desire and competency (अर्थित्वसामर्थ्ययोः सम्भवात्), in the same vein it is mentioned that vidura etc too had access to specialized knowledge (विदुरप्रभृतयश्च शूद्रयोनिप्रभवा अपि विशिष्टविज्ञानसम्पन्नाः स्मर्यन्ते) and therefore sudras should have access to ब्रह्मविद्या (तस्मादधिक्रियते शूद्रो विद्यासु). Here ends the पूर्वपक्ष and the उत्तरपक्ष begins (इत्येवं प्राप्ते ब्रूमः)Dear Abhishek JiI'm pretty confident these translations are not misleading. Please read the bhaṣya in its entirety -
यथा मनुष्याधिकारनियममपोद्य देवादीनामपि विद्यास्वधिकार उक्तः, तथैव द्विजात्यधिकारनियमापवादेन शूद्रस्याप्यधिकारः स्यादित्येतामाशङ्कां निवर्तयितुमिदमधिकरणमारभ्यते । तत्र शूद्रस्याप्यधिकारः स्यादिति तावत्प्राप्तम्; अर्थित्वसामर्थ्ययोः सम्भवात् , ‘तस्माच्छूद्रो यज्ञेऽनवकॢप्तः’ (तै. सं. ७ । १ । १ । ६) इतिवत् ‘शूद्रो विद्यायामनवकॢप्त’ इति निषेधाश्रवणात् । यच्च कर्मस्वनधिकारकारणं शूद्रस्यानग्नित्वम् , न तद्विद्यास्वधिकारस्यापवादकं लिङ्गम् । न ह्याहवनीयादिरहितेन विद्या वेदितुं न शक्यते । भवति च श्रौतं लिङ्गं शूद्राधिकारस्योपोद्बलकम् । संवर्गविद्यायां हि जानश्रुतिं पौत्रायणं शुश्रूषुं शूद्रशब्देन परामृशति — ‘अह हारे त्वा शूद्र तवैव सह गोभिरस्तु’ (छा. उ. ४ । २ । ३) इति । विदुरप्रभृतयश्च शूद्रयोनिप्रभवा अपि विशिष्टविज्ञानसम्पन्नाः स्मर्यन्ते । तस्मादधिक्रियते शूद्रो विद्यास्वित्येवं प्राप्ते ब्रूमः —Also please read the bhaṣya to 38th sutra. Things will become very clear then -
इतश्च न शूद्रस्याधिकारः; यदस्य स्मृतेः श्रवणाध्ययनार्थप्रतिषेधो भवति । वेदश्रवणप्रतिषेधः, वेदाध्ययनप्रतिषेधः, तदर्थज्ञानानुष्ठानयोश्च प्रतिषेधः शूद्रस्य स्मर्यते । श्रवणप्रतिषेधस्तावत् — ‘अथ हास्य वेदमुपशृण्वतस्त्रपुजतुभ्यां श्रोत्रप्रतिपूरणम्’ इति; ‘पद्यु ह वा एतच्छ्मशानं यच्छूद्रस्तस्माच्छूद्रसमीपे नाध्येतव्यम्’ इति च । अत एवाध्ययनप्रतिषेधः । यस्य हि समीपेऽपि नाध्येतव्यं भवति, स कथमश्रुतमधीयीत । भवति च ‘वेदोच्चारणे जिह्वाच्छेदः, धारणे शरीरभेद’(गौ॰ध॰सू॰ २-३-४) इति । अत एव चार्थादर्थज्ञानानुष्ठानयोः प्रतिषेधो भवति — ‘न शूद्राय मतिं दद्यात्’(म॰स्मृ॰ ४-८०) इति, ‘द्विजातीनामध्ययनमिज्या दानम्’(गौ॰ध॰सू॰ २-१-१) इति च । येषां पुनः पूर्वकृतसंस्कारवशाद्विदुरधर्मव्याधप्रभृतीनां ज्ञानोत्पत्तिः, तेषां न शक्यते फलप्राप्तिः प्रतिषेद्धुम् , ज्ञानस्यैकान्तिकफलत्वात् । ‘श्रावयेच्चतुरो वर्णान्’(म॰भा॰ १२-३२७-४९) इति चेतिहासपुराणाधिगमे चातुर्वर्ण्यस्याधिकारस्मरणात् । वेदपूर्वकस्तु नास्त्यधिकारः शूद्राणामिति स्थितम् ॥ ३८ ॥Vidura got the knowledge not from the Veda but from other means.Regards
लोकेश
यथा मनुष्याधिकारनियममपोद्य देवादीनामपि विद्यास्वधिकार उक्तः, तथैव द्विजात्यधिकारनियमापवादेन शूद्रस्याप्यधिकारः स्यादित्येतामाशङ्कां निवर्तयितुमिदमधिकरणमारभ्यते । तत्र शूद्रस्याप्यधिकारः स्यादिति तावत्प्राप्तम्; अर्थित्वसामर्थ्ययोः सम्भवात् , ‘तस्माच्छूद्रो यज्ञेऽनवकॢप्तः’ (तै. सं. ७ । १ । १ । ६) इतिवत् ‘शूद्रो विद्यायामनवकॢप्त’ इति निषेधाश्रवणात् । यच्च कर्मस्वनधिकारकारणं शूद्रस्यानग्नित्वम् , न तद्विद्यास्वधिकारस्यापवादकं लिङ्गम् । न ह्याहवनीयादिरहितेन विद्या वेदितुं न शक्यते । भवति च श्रौतं लिङ्गं शूद्राधिकारस्योपोद्बलकम् । संवर्गविद्यायां हि जानश्रुतिं पौत्रायणं शुश्रूषुं शूद्रशब्देन परामृशति — ‘अह हारे त्वा शूद्र तवैव सह गोभिरस्तु’ (छा. उ. ४ । २ । ३) इति । विदुरप्रभृतयश्च शूद्रयोनिप्रभवा अपि विशिष्टविज्ञानसम्पन्नाः स्मर्यन्ते । तस्मादधिक्रियते शूद्रो विद्यास्वित्येवं प्राप्ते ब्रूमः —
इतश्च न शूद्रस्याधिकारः; यदस्य स्मृतेः श्रवणाध्ययनार्थप्रतिषेधो भवति । वेदश्रवणप्रतिषेधः, वेदाध्ययनप्रतिषेधः, तदर्थज्ञानानुष्ठानयोश्च प्रतिषेधः शूद्रस्य स्मर्यते । श्रवणप्रतिषेधस्तावत् — ‘अथ हास्य वेदमुपशृण्वतस्त्रपुजतुभ्यां श्रोत्रप्रतिपूरणम्’ इति; ‘पद्यु ह वा एतच्छ्मशानं यच्छूद्रस्तस्माच्छूद्रसमीपे नाध्येतव्यम्’ इति च । अत एवाध्ययनप्रतिषेधः । यस्य हि समीपेऽपि नाध्येतव्यं भवति, स कथमश्रुतमधीयीत । भवति च ‘वेदोच्चारणे जिह्वाच्छेदः, धारणे शरीरभेद’(गौ॰ध॰सू॰ २-३-४) इति । अत एव चार्थादर्थज्ञानानुष्ठानयोः प्रतिषेधो भवति — ‘न शूद्राय मतिं दद्यात्’(म॰स्मृ॰ ४-८०) इति, ‘द्विजातीनामध्ययनमिज्या दानम्’(गौ॰ध॰सू॰ २-१-१) इति च । येषां पुनः पूर्वकृतसंस्कारवशाद्विदुरधर्मव्याधप्रभृतीनां ज्ञानोत्पत्तिः, तेषां न शक्यते फलप्राप्तिः प्रतिषेद्धुम् , ज्ञानस्यैकान्तिकफलत्वात् । ‘श्रावयेच्चतुरो वर्णान्’(म॰भा॰ १२-३२७-४९) इति चेतिहासपुराणाधिगमे चातुर्वर्ण्यस्याधिकारस्मरणात् । वेदपूर्वकस्तु नास्त्यधिकारः शूद्राणामिति स्थितम् ॥ ३८ ॥