Purusha Sukta says that Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Sudras came from parts of Purusha's body (mouth, arms, thighs, feet).
Does it go against the Vedas to prescribe different punishments for the same crime to different offsprings of Purusha?
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Sign up to join this communityPurusha Sukta says that Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Sudras came from parts of Purusha's body (mouth, arms, thighs, feet).
Does it go against the Vedas to prescribe different punishments for the same crime to different offsprings of Purusha?
A partial answer ..
Are scriptures like Manu-smriti Veda-viruddha?
No. Because Manu Smriti itself is criticizing such Veda-Viruddha scriptures.
12.95. All those traditions (smriti) and those despicable systems of philosophy, which are not based on the Veda, produce no reward after death; for they are declared to be founded on Darkness.
12.96. All those (doctrines), differing from the (Veda), which spring up and (soon) perish, are worthless and false, because they are of modern date.
Generally, scriptures like Smritis, Puranas are considered as Veda-Mulak i.e. which have Vedas as their roots. So, usually they do not go against the Vedas.
Are scriptures like Manu-smriti Veda-viruddha?
From the Taittiriya Samhita of the Krishna Yajur Veda:
Whatever Manu has said is beneficial.
Your next question:
Does it go against the Vedas to prescribe different punishments for the same crime to different offsprings of Purusha?
No, because the value of a caste is based on the origin in the body of the Purusha.
From the Manusmriti:
8.270 - If a once-born person insults a twice-born one with gross abuse, he should suffer the cutting off of his tongue; as he is of low origin.
Medhatithi's commentary:
‘Once-born person’—the Śūdra; if he ‘insults’—abuses—the higher castes—‘with gross abuse’—harsh words attributing heinous offences,—suffers ‘the cutting off of the tongue.’
‘He is of low origin’—being born out of the feet of Brahmā. This is the reason given for the special penalty; and it serves also to indicate the same punishment for persons of the reverse cross-breed also; since these latter also are ‘of low origin’; specially in view of the declaration that ‘there is no fifth caste.’