Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c12.163

c12.163

Manu repeats the old rule of giving warning to the members of the various varṇas before making deposition.⁴ If a śūdra gives false evidence, he is held guitly of all sins,⁵ and is threatened with the most terrible spiritual consequences.⁶ But he adds that a judge should cause a brāhmaṇa to swear by his veracity, a kṣatriya by his chariot or the animal he rides on, a vaiśya by his kine, grain and gold, and a śūdra by imprecating on his head the guilt of all grievous sins.⁷ Significantly, however, Manu does not ordain any special royal punishment for the śūdra witness. He states the general principle that, in the case of giving false evidence, the king should fine and banish men of the three lower castes, but should only banish a brāhmaṇa.⁸ Similarly, according to Manu, brāhmaṇas are not liable to corporal punishments, which can be inflicted only on the members of the three lower varṇas.⁹ Therefore in these respects the śūdra is placed on a footing of equality with the kṣatriya and the vaiśya.