[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958) › c12.252 # Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c12.252 Śūdras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c12.252 - **Language:** English ### [c12.252](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c12.252) But the slaves and the hired labourers did not enjoy the same rights as the citizens. This can be inferred from the conditions obtaining in the republican states of the Mālavas and the Kṣudrakas. Commenting on a passage of Pāṇini Patañjali states that the sons of the Kṣudrakas and the Mālavas are respectively known as Kṣaudrakyas and Mālavyas, but this does not apply to the sons of their slaves and labourers.⁴ - [Previous: c12.251](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c12.251) - [Next: c12.253](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c12.253) - [Up: c12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c12) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c12.252](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c12.252) · Pramāṇa