Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c10.120

c10.120

We have hardly any idea about the numerical strength of slaves and hired labourers in relation to their employers. Even in the case of Attica, where statistics are available, it is very difficult to reach agreement on the proportion of the free to slave population.⁴ It is likely that Magadha’s wars, particularly against the comparatively non-brāhmaṇical zones of Aṅga and Avanti, added to the number of slaves. But the paucity of data in the case of India makes it much more difficult to obtain any definite information on this point. A sutta states that few are those who abstain from accepting men and women slaves.⁵ The brāhmaṇical theory that the śūdras are meant for the service of the three higher varṇas is broadly reflected in the employment of slaves and labourers by the brāhmaṇas,⁶ the kṣatriyas,⁷ and seṭṭhis and the gahapatis.⁸ According to the Dharmasūtras the brāhmaṇas could exchange slaves for slaves but could not sell them.⁹ All this would suggest that slavery prevailed on a considerable scale, but in any case it cannot be compared to the position in Attica where in the 5th century B.C. slaves comprised about a third of the total population.¹