Which of the following was one of the strategies the Brahmanas evolved for enforcing their social norms?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Asserting that the varna order was of divine origin
Option (1) Asserting that the varna order was of divine origin — Correct. The Brahmanas claimed that the varna order, with themselves ranked first, was divinely ordained. Calling it the will of the gods made the norms harder to question.
Option (2) Persuading people that their status was determined by their occupation — Incorrect. This reverses the Brahmanas' claim. They tried to persuade people that a person's status was determined by birth, and the occupation followed from that status.
Option (3) Advising the heads of shrenis to see that the norms were followed — Incorrect. Shrenis were guilds of crafts and trade. The Brahmanas turned to kings, advising them to see that the norms were followed within their kingdoms.
Option (4) Recording the norms in royal inscriptions set up in the kingdom — Incorrect. Royal inscriptions were not their way of enforcing the norms. The prescriptions were reinforced by stories told in the Mahabharata and other texts.
NCERT (2026-27): “3.1 The “right” occupation … |