Dasa

Dasa (Sanskrit: दास, Dāsa) is a Sanskrit language term found in ancient Hindu texts, such as the Rigveda and Arthashastra. It usually means enemy or servant. In some contexts, dasa is interchangeable with the Sanskrit words dasyu and asura.

Quotes

Spiritual entities

• Agni born shone out slaying the Dasyus, the darkness by the Light; he found the Cows, the Waters, Swar.
  • Rigveda, V, 14, 4, as translated by Sri Aurobindo, "The Secret of the Veda", Arya, no. 2 (15 August 1915), p. 618

Foreigners or barbarians

• Punishing the vowless (people) for the sake of Manu,
  He subjected to him the black skin.
  • Rigveda, I, 130, 8, as translated by Tatyana J. Elizarenkova, Language and Style of the Vedic Ṛṣis (1995), p. 36: i.e. "Indra subjected the aboriginal tribes of the Dāsas/Dasyus to the Aryans."

• Around us is the Dasyu, riteless, void of sense, inhuman, keeping alien laws.
  Baffle, thou Slayer of the foe, the weapon which this Dasa wields.
  • Rigveda, X, 22, 8, as translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1870); or, as translated by H. H. Wilson (1850–88): "The Dasyu practising no religious rites, not knowing us thoroughly, following other observances, obeying no human laws, baffle, destroyer of enemies, the weapon of that Dasa.

• Armed with the thunderbolt, and confident in his strength, he has gone on destroying the cities of the Dasyus. Thunderer, acknowledging (the praises of thy worshipper), cast, for his sake, thy shaft against the Dasyu, and augment the strength and glory of the A′rya.
  • From the Rigveda, as translated by H. H. Wilson (1850–88)

Demons

• The sovereign Indra attacking him overcame the loud-shouting, six-eyed, three-headed Dása,
  Trita invigorated by his strength, smote the cloud with his iron-tipped finger.
  • Rigveda, X, 99, 6, as translated by H. H. Wilson (1850–88)

Servants

• May this Manu (Sávarni) quickly be born, may he increase like (well-watered) seed, who sends me at once a thousand and a hundred horses for a present. ... Yadu and Indra speaking auspiciously, and possessed of numerous cattle, gave them like (appointed) servants, for the enjoyment (of Manu Sávarni).
  • Rigveda, X, 62, 10, as translated by H. H. Wilson (1850–88)