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Diodorus Siculus · Bibliotheca Historica §2.41.1-2.41.5

Remaining Four Classes of India and Strict Caste Rules

Passage 141 of 406 · Greek

Summary

Describes the remaining four classes of India (artisans, soldiers, inspectors, and councillors) and explains the strict prohibition of intermarriage and occupational change between classes.

§2.41.1τέταρτον δʼ ἐστὶ μέρος τὸ τῶν τεχνιτῶν· καὶ τούτων οἱ μέν εἰσιν ὁπλοποιοί, οἱ δὲ τοῖς γεωργοῖς ἤ τισιν ἄλλοις τὰ χρήσιμα πρὸς ὑπηρεσίαν κατασκευάζουσιν.
The fourth class is that of the artisans; of these, some are arms-makers, while others construct tools useful for the services of the husbandmen or of others.
οὗτοι δʼ οὐ μόνον ἀτελεῖς εἰσιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ σιτομετρίαν ἐκ τοῦ βασιλικοῦ λαμβάνουσι.
These are not only exempt from taxation, but also receive a ration of grain from the royal treasury.
§2.41.2πέμπτον δὲ τὸ στρατιωτικόν, εἰς τοὺς πολέμους εὐθετοῦν, τῷ μὲν πλήθει δεύτερον, ἀνέσει δὲ καὶ παιδιᾷ πλείστῃ χρώμενον ἐν ταῖς εἰρήναις.
The fifth is the military class, well-fitted for war, which is second in number, but enjoys the greatest leisure and amusement in times of peace.
τρέφεται δʼ ἐκ τοῦ βασιλικοῦ πᾶν τὸ πλῆθος τῶν στρατιωτῶν καὶ τῶν πολεμιστῶν ἵππων τε καὶ ἐλεφάντων.
The entire multitude of soldiers, as well as the war-horses and war-elephants, are maintained at the king's expense.
§2.41.3ἕκτον δʼ ἐστὶ τὸ τῶν ἐφόρων· οὗτοι δὲ πολυπραγμονοῦντες πάντα καὶ ἐφορῶντες τὰ κατὰ τὴν Ἰνδικὴν ἀπαγγέλλουσι τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν, ἐὰν δʼ ἡ πόλις αὐτῶν ἀβασίλευτος ᾖ, τοῖς ἄρχουσιν.
The sixth is the class of the inspectors; these, busybodies in all matters and overseeing everything throughout India, make reports to the kings, or, if their city is without a king, to the magistrates.
§2.41.4ἕβδομον δʼ ἐστὶ μέρος τὸ βουλεῦον μὲν καὶ συνεδρεῦον τοῖς ὑπὲρ τῶν κοινῶν βουλευομένοις, πλήθει μὲν ἐλάχιστον, εὐγενείᾳ δὲ καὶ φρονήσει μάλιστα θαυμαζόμενον· ἐκ τούτων γὰρ οἵ τε σύμβουλοι τοῖς βασιλεῦσίν εἰσιν οἵ τε διοικηταὶ τῶν κοινῶν καὶ οἱ δικασταὶ τῶν ἀμφισβητουμένων, καὶ καθόλου τοὺς ἡγεμόνας καὶ τοὺς ἄρχοντας ἐκ τούτων ἔχουσι.
The seventh part is that which deliberates and sits in council with those who consult on public affairs, smallest in number, but most admired for noble birth and wisdom; for from these are chosen the advisers to the kings, the administrators of public affairs, and the judges of disputes, and in general they obtain their leaders and magistrates from this class.
§2.41.5τὰ μὲν οὖν μέρη τῆς διῃρημένης πολιτείας παρʼ Ἰνδοῖς σχεδὸν ταῦτʼ ἔστιν·
These, then, are virtually the parts into which the state is divided among the Indians.
οὐκ ἔξεστι δὲ γαμεῖν ἐξ ἄλλου γένους ἢ προαιρέσεις ἢ τέχνας μεταχειρίζεσθαι, οἷον στρατιώτην ὄντα γεωργεῖν ἢ τεχνίτην ὄντα φιλοσοφεῖν.
It is not permitted to marry from another class, nor to change one's occupation or trade, as for instance for a soldier to practice agriculture or an artisan to study philosophy.

Notes

  1. §2.41.1ἐκ τοῦ βασιλικού — Substantive use of the neuter adjective `βασιλικός`, with a noun like `ταμιείου` ("treasury") omitted, or functioning on its own to mean "from the royal treasury" or "at the king's expense." The same phrase appears in §2.41.2.
  2. §2.41.4τοῖς ὑπὲρ τῶν κοινῶν βουλευομένοις — The participle `βουλευομένοις` (dative plural) is governed by the intransitive verb `συνεδρεῦον` ("sitting in council with"). The structure means "sitting in council with those who deliberate on public affairs."
  3. §2.41.5προαιρέσεις ἢ τέχνας μεταχειρίζεσθαι — Here `μεταχειρίζεσθαι` is used in the sense of "taking up (newly)" or "practicing," making the phrase mean "to change one's way of life or trade." The sense of transitioning across boundaries from the preceding `ἐξ ἄλλου γένους` ("from another class") is carried over here, as illustrated by the subsequent examples (e.g., a soldier practicing agriculture).

Cite this passage

Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica §2.41.1-2.41.5. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0060.tlg001.humanitext-grc5:2.41.1-2.41.5

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