Sanskrit was a form of the Aryan language. •The Sanskrit word “Arya” means “noble,” which refers to the high status of the ancient Aryans in Indian society. Arya is cognate with the word for “Iran.”•The designation of “Arya” may be indicative of the development of caste separation. As theorized, the Aryans became the elites, while the indigenous non-Aryan Indians were relegated to lower-caste status