 The Vedic tribes regarded themselves as "arya" (the noble ones) and the rival tribes were called "dasa", "dasyu" and "pani".The "dasas" were frequent allies of the Aryan tribes, and they were probably assimilated into the Aryan society, giving rise to a class distinction.Many "dasas" were however in a servile position, giving rise to the eventual meaning of "dasa" as servant or slave.