Dasa Origin Quote by John Keay
““some of the Vedic jana, like the Yadavas, are thought to have been of dasa origin. Hence too the clearly -dasa names of Su-dasa, a Bharata chief who scored a notable victory over ten rival ‘kings’, and Divo-dasa of the ten horse-sacrifices at Varanasi.””
About This Quote
Source Book: India: A History by John Keay, 2000
The passage notes that certain ancient Indian groups, such as the Yadavas, are believed to have origins linked to the dasa class, reflected in names like Su‑dasa and Divo‑dasa.
In simple terms: Some ancient Indian peoples were likely from the dasa class, shown by their names.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how names reveal social origins.
Themes
history
identity
social structure
Mood
analytical
curious
Type
historical
academic
When to use this quote
- archaeology
- genealogy
- cultural studies
Key Concepts
caste origins
etymology
Questions to Reflect On
- What can names tell us about ancient societies?
- How reliable are linguistic clues for social history?
A Different Perspective
Names may not fully capture complex identities.
