will become a bird, or a beast, or a low caste person respectively. There are three gunas[1] (qualities), satva (goodness), rajas (activity), and tamas (darkness). When one of these three qualities predominates, the body becomes distinguished by that quality. The study of Vedas, austerity, and knowledge, and purity, etc., are marks of the quality of goodness. Delighting in adventure, want of firmness, indulgence in sexual pleasure are marks of the quality of activity. Cruelty, covetousness, evil life, etc., are marks of dark quality.
Through each of these qualities man obtains various transmigrations. It is preponderance of various qualities that determines the birth of man as a Brāhmania or a Shūdra. Those who commit sins go into inferior existences or wombs; those who do good actions pass into superior wombs; and those who lead an ideal life obtain cessation of birth and death.[2]
Thus it will be noticed that Hindus of that period who upheld caste did not do so out of disregard for justice, but only out of regard for it. They held that the varna order is ordained for justice and human betterment. The mere statement of their belief in this matter sounds like a satire to a person who is unacquainted with their system of thought. They did not hold that a man should not have a chance to better his condition. They only
- ↑ I have translated the word "guna" by quality for the sake of convenience. In fact the Sankhya philosophy which used these terms does not regard them as qualities merely, but regards gunas as substances. "Goodness" and "darkness" were something like substances which dwelt in various objects.
- ↑ I have avoided here to explain how the doctrines of Heaven and Hell and Transmigration of Soul were reconciled, as this explanation is not necessary for our purposes.
