We have saw that many clowns have whinned on many platforms that Suta's status was very low in society as they were outside the pale of Varnas. Either those clowns were manipulated due to unauthentic resources or they knew the truth but still lied just to promote the misconception. The most funny thing is that some of those clowns accepts Gitapress translation of Mahabharata only and reject the Critical Eddition but still claims from it. Now let's see what their favorite version says about Sutas๐
Gitapress Mahabharat, Virata parva, section-16
เคฌ्เคฐाเคน्เคฎเคฃ्เคฏां เค्เคทเคค्เคฐिเคฏाเคाเคคः เคธूเคคो เคญเคตเคคि เคชाเคฐ्เคฅिเคต เคช्เคฐाเคคिเคฒोเคฎ्เคฏेเคจ เคाเคคाเคจां เคธ เคน्เคฏेเคो เคฆ्เคตिเค เคเคต เคคु ॥
เคฐाเคเคจ् ! เค्เคทเคค्เคฐिเคฏ เคชिเคคा เคเคฐ เคฌ्เคฐाเคน्เคฎเคฃी เคฎाเคคाเคธे เคเคค्เคชเคจ्เคจ เคนुเค เคฌाเคฒเค ‘เคธूเคค' เคเคนเคฒाเคคा เคนै । เคช्เคฐเคคिเคฒोเคฎเคธंเคเคฐ เคाเคคिเคฏों เคฎें เค
เคेเคฒी เคฏเคน เคธूเคค เคाเคคि เคนी เคฆ्เคตिเค เคเคนी เคเคฏी เคนै ॥
เคฐเคฅเคाเคฐ เคฎिเคคीเคฎं เคนि เค्เคฐिเคฏाเคฏुเค्เคคं เคฆ्เคตिเคเคจ्เคฎเคจाเคฎ् । เค्เคทเคค्เคฐिเคฏाเคฆเคตเคฐं เคตैเคถ्เคฏाเคฆ् เคตिเคถिเคท्เคเคฎिเคคि เคเค्เคทเคคे ॥
เคฆ्เคตिเคोเคिเคค เคเคฐ्เคฎोंเคธे เคฏुเค्เคค เคเคธ เคธूเคคเคो เคนी เคฐเคฅเคाเคฐ เคญी เคเคนเคคे เคนैं। เคเคธे เค्เคทเคค्เคฐिเคฏเคธे เคนीเคจ เคเคฐ เคตैเคถ्เคฏเคธे เคถ्เคฐेเคท्เค เคฌเคคाเคคे เคนैं |
Here it is mentioned that Sutas were superior to Vaishyas but inferior to Kshatriyas.
Now let's move towards the most authentic version of Mahabharata (BORI CE).
Once Bhishma says that Nishadas, Sutas e.t.c are condemned by the four Varnas as they are the offspring of pratiloma marriage. As per Bhishma, Such a person will oppress his preceptor's wife and are the worst. I don't think that even Suta fans will agree on it because we don't find any evidance where Sutas oppressed their preceptor's wives, neither it was true at all.
I don't know that why do Suta fans want to prove Suta community as a wretch community by using Bhisma's statement whereas neither Sutas were worst people, nor their status was low.
What was the actual status of Suta community in society we will see it in this thread.
Suta was a respected community and no where it's members were oppressed by the higher Varnas, they used to live happily and were involved in every profession.
Let's have a look at some examples
1) Karna , who was called the son of Suta was a fighter and even became the king of Anga and was respected by Duryodhana and other Kshtriyas
Note:- Bhishma and Shalya had insulted Karna a few times but there are some reasons of them using harsh words towards Karna in some occasions which are clearly mentioned in Mahabharata.
2) The other sons of Adhirata were also warriors, it means a Suta can practice the dharma of Kshatriyas.
3) Sauti's father was a disciple of Lord Vyasa and obtained scriptural knowledge from him. It itself proves that they were allowed to study even from top level Gurus.
Adi Parva, Chapter No. 13 ( Mahabharata CE by BORI, Dr. Bibek Debroy translation )
Souti said, ‘The wise know this ancient story as history. It was recounted by Krishna Dvaipayana to the inhabitants of the Naimisharanya. At the request of the Brahmanas, my learned father Lomaharshana, Vyasa’s disciple and a suta, once narrated it. O Shounaka! I
was present at the time. Since you have asked me, I shall recount the story of Astika exactly as I heard it.
4) Sauti:- He is the main narrator of Mahabharata and was a respectable person.
Adi Parva, Chapter No. 01, ( Mahabharata CE by BORI, Dr. Bibek Debroy translation )
Ugrashrava, the son of Lomaharshana and the son of a suta, learned in the Puranas, and also known as Souti, once approached them, bowing in humility. When he reached the hermitage of Naimisharanya, the hermits who were the inhabitants,
surrounded him, wishing to hear his wonderful stories. Having been respectfully welcomed by those sages,
5) Sanjaya:- The chief advisor and a massenger of King Dhristrastra as well as the narrator of entire Kurukshetra War
Ashramavasa Parva, Chapter No. 22 ( Mahabharata CE by BORI, Dr. Bibek Debroy translation )
Vidura decided that the time was right for him to also go to the forest with the king. The chief adviser and suta, Sanjaya, Gavalgana’s son, also took the same decision.
6) Bandi :- A top debator, who defeated Ashtavakra's father(A Brahmana) but was defeated by Ashtavakra. Bandi was expert in the knowledge of Vedas and was treated very well by his king. It also proves that Sutas can study the Vedas.
Vana Parva, Chapter No. 132 ( Mahabharata CE by BORI, Dr. Bibek Debroy translation )
Bandi was skilled in debate. The brahmana was defeated by him and drowned in the waters. ‘“Uddalaka got to know that he had been defeated by a suta
7) Varshneya :- A respectable charioteer of King Nala
Vana Parva, Chapter No. 57 ( Mahabharata CE by BORI, Dr. Bibek Debroy translation )
‘O Brihatsena! O fortunate one! As if on Nala’s instructions, go again and bring the suta Varshneya here. A great task has to be performed.’ On hearing what Damayanti had said, Brihatsena summoned Varshneya through reliable servants.
‘“Bhima’s unblemished daughter was well versed about place and time. She knew that the time had come. She told Varshneya in a soft voice, ‘You know that the king has always behaved properly towards you. Now that his moment of distress has arrived, you should help
him
8) Keechaka:- A powerful commander of kingdom Virata and a top fighter
9) King Nala:- He was a Nishada (inferior to Suta) but still a highly respectable King in society and belongs to noble lineage. He also took the part in Damyanti's Swyamwara.
Vana Parva, Chapter No. 50 ( Mahabharata CE by BORI, Dr. Bibek Debroy translation )
‘Brihadashva said, “There was a strong king named Nala, the son of Virasena. He had all the good qualities and was handsome. He was skilled with horses. He stood at the head of all the
kings among men, like the king of the gods. He was supreme to everyone and had energy like that of the sun. This brave king of the nishadhas was learned in the Vedas and devoted to
brahmanas.
Vana Parva, Chapter No. 51 ( Mahabharata CE by BORI, Dr. Bibek Debroy translation )
The gods stopped their vimanas in the sky and descending from the sky, addressed the king of Nishadha, ‘O Nala! O Nishadha! O Indra among kings! You are always devoted to the truth. O supreme among men! Help us and become our messenger.’”
Vana Parva, Chapter No. 67 ( Mahabharata CE by BORI, Dr. Bibek Debroy translation )
Damayanti to King Nala:-
You are famous, wise and kind and have
been born to a noble lineage. But I fear that you have now become cruel and that is the reason my fortune has turned.
Note:- But it does not mean that all Nishadas were good because some nishadas are depicted as man eater and evil creatures.
10) Adhirata:- A suta friend of Dhristrastra. If Sutas' status were low and people didn't respect Sutas then how Adhirata became a friend of Dhristrastra ?
Vana Parva, Chapter No. 293 ( Mahabharata CE by BORI, Dr. Bibek Debroy translation )
Vaishampayana said, ‘Dhritarashtra had a friend and he was a suta named Adhiratha. At that time, he went to the Jahnavi, together with his wife.
11) Daruka and his son:- they were Sutas but highly respectable charioteers among Vrishnis
Vana Parva, Chapter No. 19 ( Mahabharata CE by BORI, Dr. Bibek Debroy translation )
Pradyumana to Daruka's son
You have been born in the suta
lineage and you are well trained in the tasks of sutas. O Daruka’s son! You know the dharma of Vrishnis in battle. O Souti! Since you know the conduct of Vrishnis in battle
12) Yadavas:- They were Sutas as they were offspring of Yadu(Ancestor of Shri Krishna) who was a suta. But nowhere we find that their status were low in society and were mistreated by higher Varnas.
Yadu's father was Kshatriya (Yayati) but his mother was Brahmin(Devyani)
Adi Parva, Chapter No. 76 (Mahabharata CE by BORI, Dr. Bibek Debroy translation)
Yayati replied, “O beautiful one! I am not worthy of you. You are the daughter of Ushanas. O Devayani! Your father cannot marry you to a king.” Devayani replied, “Brahmanas have already been united with Kshatriyas and Kshatriyas have
been united with Brahmanas. You are a rishi and the son of a rishi. O son of Nahusha! Therefore, marry me.” Yayati replied, “O beautiful one! There is no doubt that the four varnas have sprung from a single body. But their purity varies and so does their dharma. The
Brahmana is superior to the others.”
Adi Parva, Chapter No. 78 (Mahabharata CE by BORI, Dr. Bibek Debroy translation)
‘O king! Yayati had two sons through Devayani—Yadu and Turvasu. Those two were like Shakra and Vishnu. Through that rajarshi, Vrishaparva’s daughter Sharmishtha gave birth
to three sons—Druhyu, Anu and Puru.
YADU HAS NOT GIVEN HIS YOUTH TO YAYATI , IT WAS PURU WHO GAVE IT THAT'S THE REASON, YAYATI WAS GIVING HIS THRONE TO PURU (ANCESTOR OF KAURAVAS) INSTEAD OF YADU THEN THE BRAHMANAS THEMSELVES CAME AND TOLD YAYATI TO INSTALL HIS ELDEST SON YADU (A SUTA) ON THE THRONE. IT PROVES THAT SUTA'S STATUS WEREN'T LOW IN SOCIETY.
Adi Parva, Chapter No. 80 (Mahabharata CE by BORI, Dr. Bibek Debroy translation)
‘The king wished to instate his youngest son, Puru, as the king. But the four varnas, led by the Brahmanas, said, “O lord! How can you instate Puru in the kingdom, overlooking your eldest son Yadu, who is Sharmishtha’s son and Shukra’s grandson? Yadu is your eldest son.
YADAVAS WERE OFFSPRING OF YADU
‘Giving the kingdom to Puru, he accepted the vows for departing to the forest and left his capital with the Brahmanas and the ascetics. Yadu’s sons are known as the Yadavas,
Moreover, Shalya says that Shudras are the servants of all other Varnas but regarding Sutas, he says that they are the servants of Brahmanas and Kshtriyas only. It itself proves that the status of Sutas were superior to Vaishyas and Shudras thats why they were the servants of only two superior varnas.
Karna Parva, Chapter No. 23 (Mahabharata CE by BORI, Dr. Bibek Debroy translation)
Shalya says:-
It has been decreed that
shudras are the servants of brahmanas, kshatriyas and vaishyas. It has been decreed that sutas are the
servants of brahmanas and kshatriyas. They are not the servants of shudras.
Ofcourse Sutas were outside the pale of Varnas as there were only 4 Varnas but their social status were good in society and all the above examples proves that almost all the rights were available to Sutas and they were treated respectfully hence Bhutta Karnandus who claim that Karna and other Sutas were repeatedly insulted in their lives because of their caste is nothing but a big joke.
Let's end this topic with what Yudhishthir said:-
Vana Parva, Chapter No.177 (Mahabharata CE by BORI, Dr. Bibek Debroy translation)
‘Yudhishthira replied, “O great serpent! O immensely wise one! I think that among men, birth is difficult to determine, because of mixed birth among all the varnas. Men always beget
children on women from all varnas. All men are equal in speech, intercourse, birth and death. The proof of this can be found in the words of the learned rishis, who have said ‘We sacrifice’ and so on, basing this entirely on conduct.The birth rituals of a man are performed even before the navel chord has been severed. At that time, the mother is Savitri and the father is
the preceptor. Before initiation into knowledge of the Vedas, everyone is a shudra by conduct. When there is a difference of opinion on this, Svayambhuva Manu
has categorically stated, ‘The observance of rituals determines varna. If conduct cannot be seen, mixed races overwhelmingly dominate.’ O Indra among serpents! O great serpent! O supreme
among serpents! I have earlier defined as a brahmana one in whom the principles of good conduct are seen
-Avenger
