Mlechha
Mlechha is a derogatory word for foreigners and ritually unclean persons used in Hindu scriptures. Sakas, Huns, Pulinda and many other foreign tribes were referred by this term. Kautilya, however, restricted the term to the white Huns, who were deemed to be notorious for their uncleanliness. The Manusmriti categorised them as Shudra in the Varna system. The same view was taken by Panini. However the term is also used for uncasted people. Sometimes it is called the fifth Varna in the Indian caste system.
The word Mlechha is derived from two root words, "mal" meaning "dirt", and "ichha" meaning "willingness"; hence the word means one who has a willingness for dirty things. Much discussion of the concept of "mlechha" occurs in the Mahabharata. The North West of the Indian subcontinent - parts of the present day Pakistan has also been referred to as Mlechhadesh, meaning abode of mlechha.
However all Mlechhas were not treated uniformly. Some were able to attain the status of Kshatriya, if they fulfilled wishes of Brahmins and by protecting them. The Manusmriti recognises that caste-designations were often arbitrary. Foreign tribes were called anything spanning between Kshatriya and Shudra depending upon their domination and relationship with Brahmins. Many eventually became Brahmin too.
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