varṇā

varṇ (rather Nom. fr. varṇa) cl. 10. P. ( Dhātup. xxxv, 83 ) varṇayati ( mc. also te; aor. avavarṇat; inf. varṇayitum or varṇitum), to paint, colour, dye, Yājñ. ; Daś. ; to depict, picture, write, describe, relate, tell, explain, MBh. ; Kāv. &c.; to regard, consider, Kathās. ; to spread, extend, MBh. ; to praise, extol, proclaim qualities, W. : Pass. varṇyate ( aor. avarṇi), to be coloured or described &c., MBh. ; Kāv. &c.

varṇa m. (or n. g. arDarcA di , prob. fr. √ 1. vṛ; ifc. f(ā). ) a covering, cloak, mantle, L.

colour = race, species, kind, sort, character, nature, quality, property (applied to persons and things), RV. &c. &c.

class of men, tribe, order, caste ( prob. from contrast of colour between the dark aboriginal tribes and their fair conquerors; in RV. esp. applied to the Ārya s and the Dāsa s; but more properly applicable to the four principal classes described in Manu 's code, viz. Brāhmans , Kṣatriya s, Vaiśya s, and Śūdra s; the more modern word for ‘caste’ being jāti ; cf. IW. 210 n. 1 ), ib.