Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c12.254

c12.254

Manu’s provisions regarding the politico-legal position of the śūdras are mostly based on the similar rules of the older authorities. Of his new provisions some were directed against the foreign rulers and followers of heterodox sects who were condemned as śūdras, and others against the śūdras as such. The provisions of the later type mainly relate to śūdras offending against brāhmaṇas. But even in this respect Manu’s policy of gross discrimination against the śūdras could not make any appreciable headway. He not only retains the old provision of wergeld for the life of a śūdra but also prescribes a fine of 12 paṇas for the brāhmaṇa abusing a śūdra—a provision which is not to be found in the earlier law-books. It is significant that in the second century A.D. the Sātavāhana ruler Gautamīputra Śātakarṇi (A.D. 106-130) claims to have restored order out of the confusion of the four varṇas by conciliating the brāhmaṇas and the śūdras (avaras).¹ This alignment of the varṇas was directed by the brāhmaṇa ruler against the kṣatriyas,² who perhaps belonged to the foreign ruling dynasties.