Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c18.s5.t1.1

v2.c18.s5.t1.1

Slavery has existed in India from the earliest times, although a foreign writer would make us believe that it was unknown to the land. Manu describes seven kinds of slaves thus: "There are slaves of seven kinds, (viz.), he who is made a captive under a standard, he who serves for his daily food, he who is born in the house, he who is bought and he who is given, he who is inherited from ancestors, and he who is enslaved by way of punishment."⁴ According to the same authority a slave is declared to have no property.⁵ A slave, Manu further enjoins, is disqualified from giving witness except in certain cases.⁶ Female slaves or mistresses of the deceased are classed among indivisible property in the *Institutes of Vishnu*.⁷ Nārada enumerates fifteen kinds of slaves.⁸ As regards the right of slaves to own or dispose of their property, Nārada follows Manu and lays down the rule that a slave has no proprietory right.⁹