Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c10.50
Śūdras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c10.50
- Language
- English
c10.50
whether his lady-love is of the kṣatriya, brāhmaṇa, vaiśya or śūdra class.¹ Even T.W. Rhys Davids, who is inclined to reject the priestly evidence in toto, points out that in a general way the fourfold varṇa system in the Buddhist texts corresponds to the actual facts of life.² All this establishes beyond doubt that the śūdras exist as a social class in the Buddhist texts, although their position and functions are not so sharply defined as in the brāhmaṇical laws.