Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c10.196

c10.196

In an appraisal of the general economic position of the śūdra during the pre-Mauryan period, a special note has to be taken of their characterization as the serving class, which was first clearly started duing this time. It was this function of service which imparted homogeneity to the otherwise heterogeneous elements of that varṇa. As members of the serving class, along with the vaiśya peasants,² the śūdras performed the role of the primary producers, and thus provided the material foundations for the growth of society. As agricultural labourers they helped to open to cultivation the thickly wooded areas of Kosala and Magadha, which in the texts³ are referred to as being divided into large and small holdings worked by slaves and hired labourers As will be noticed later, Kauṭilya advocated the policy of employing śūdra labour for the breaking of virgin soil in the new settlements. Further, as artisans the śūdras contributed to technological development and produced marketable commodities, which led to the rise of numerous towns with their thriving trade and commerce.