"The Porul Sutra 75 of the Tolkāppiyam refers to the four-fold classification of castes, Araśar (Ksatriyas), Antaṇar (Brahmanas),Vaṇikar (merchants) and Vēlāḷar (agriculturists).The Vēlāḷas became in their turn divided into two classes, the higher and the lower. It is significant to note that the term Sudra is not to be found in this grammatical work. The petty chiefs or the Kurunilamannar generally belonged to the Vēlāḷa community. According to Nacciṉārkkiṉiyar these Vēlāḷas had marital relations with royal families, served as army commanders and were chieftains of smaller kingdoms."