India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c8.s1.15

c8.s1.15

Thirdly, there were Śūdras who had separate settlements of their own within the Aryan colonies (*ārya-nivāsa*), such as a *grāma* (village), a *ghosha* (cattle ranch), a *nagara* (town) or a *saṁvāha* (caravan camp). Examples of such Śūdras are Mṛitapas (undertakers), Chāṇḍālas, who were of the lowest grades. Fourthly, there was another class of Śūdras who were entrusted with some of the work connected with *yajñas* or sacrifices as carpenters (*takshā*), metal-workers (*ayaskāra*), washermen (*rajaka*) and weavers (*tantuvāya*). There were also Śūdra untouchables who had to take their food in their own utensils and not in those of the household, while there were others who were not subject to this restriction as being more closely associated with the household (*yair-bhukte pātram saṁskāreṇa śudhyati*, II.4.10; I.475).