Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c12.237

c12.237

Manu’s laws regarding slavery throw considerable light on the civic status of the śūdras. According to Kauṭilya the śūdra sons of āryan parents cannot be reduced to slavery. But although Manu allows shares in the inheritance of family property to śūdra sons, he does not refer to this practice. He is the first to enunciate the principle that slavery is the eternal destiny of a śūdra. But this applies only to relations between the brāhmaṇas and the śūdras. Manu states that a śūdra, whether bought or unbought, should be reduced to slavery because he is created by God for the service of a brāhmaṇa.⁷ In the next verse he adds that a śūdra cannot be released from servitude because servitude is innate in him.¹ As compared to the śūdras, the members of the twice-born castes cannot be reduced to slavery. If a brāhmaṇa compels men of the twice-born castes to work as slaves, he shall be fined 600 (paṇas) by the king.² In this connection Kauṭilya provides a graded scheme of fines; the highest fine of 48 paṇas is provided by him for enslaving a brāhmaṇa.³ Manu does not refer to such distinctions but provides a far heavier fine for enslaving the people of the three upper varṇas.