To a Brahman he commenced his thanks with the sacred syllable Om; to a king he gave thanks without the sacred Om; to a Vaishya he whispered his thanks; to a Sudra he said nothing, but thought in his own mind, _svasti_, or 'This is good.' [22] It would thus seem clear that the Sudras were distinct from the Aryas and were a separate and inferior race, consisting of the indigenous people of India.

In the Atharva-Veda the Sudra is recognised as distinct from the Arya, and also the Dasa from the Arya, as in the Rig-Veda.

[23] Dr.Wilson remarks, "The aboriginal inhabitants, again, who conformed to the Brahmanic law, received certain privileges, and were constituted as a fourth caste under the name of Sudras, whereas all the rest who kept aloof were called Dasyus, whatever their language might be." [24] The Sudras, though treated by Manu and Hindu legislation in general as a component, if enslaved, part of the Indian community, not entitled to the second or sacramental birth, are not even once mentioned in the older parts of the Vedas.

They are first locally brought to notice in the Mahabharata, along with the Abhiras, dwelling on the banks of the Indus.

There are distinct classical notices of the Sudras in this very locality and its neighbourhood.