Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c12.257

c12.257

Manu’s provisions regarding the social position of the śūdras are largely the re-mastications of the views of the older authorities. But he introduces certain new discriminations against them. He recounts the mythical story of creation which gives the lowest place to the śūdras.³ He also repeats the old law prescribing different forms of greetings (presumably used by a brāhmaṇa) in relation to the members of the four varṇas.⁴ But he adds that a brāhmaṇa who does not know the form of returning salutation must not be saluted by a learned man because he is like a śūdra.⁵ We learn from Patañjali that in returning greetings śūdras were addressed differently from non-śūdras. Thus an elevated tone was not to be used in addressing śūdras. The term bho (a vocative particle) was to be used in addressing a rājanya or a vaiśya⁶ but not a śūdra. Hence varṇa distinctions were reflected even in the formation of grammatical rules. Manu provides that a śūdra can be respected if he has reached the tenth decade of his life.⁷ But such a rule can have covered only a very limited number of śūdras.