One verse speaks of the Vishas (clans) bowing before the chief (Rajan), who was preceded by a priest (Brahman).

Another verse says: "Favour the prayer (Brahma), favour the service; kill the Rakshasas, drive away the evil; favour the power (_khatra_) and favour the manly strength; favour the cow (_dherm_, the representative of property) and favour the people (or house, _visha_)." [30] Similarly Wilson states that in the time of the Vedas, _visha_ (related to _vesha_, a house or district) signified the people in general; and Vaishya, its adjective, was afterwards applied to a householder, or that appertaining to an individual of the common people.

The Latin _vicus_ and the Greek o>=ikoc are the correspondents of _vesha_.

[31] The conclusion to be drawn is that the Aryans in the Vedas, like other early communities, were divided by rank or occupation into three classes--priests, nobles and the body of the people.

The Vishas or clans afterwards became the Vaishyas or third classical caste.