Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c12.269.1

c12.269.1

The company of the śūdra was considered contaminating for a brāhmaṇa. Manu states that a brāhmaṇa who lives in the company of the most excellent people and shuns all low people becomes most distinguished; by the opposite conduct he is degraded to the position of śūdra.⁶ He reproduces the provision that the snātaka should not travel with the śūdras.⁷ Manu recalls the old rule that if the vaiśyas and śūdras come to the house of a brāhmaṇa as guests, out of compassion they should be permitted to take their food along with the servants.⁸ Manu provides that the snātaka should not eat the food of a śūdra.⁹ In a long list of those whose food should not be taken by the snātaka are blacksmiths, niṣādas, stage-players, goldsmiths, basket-makers, trainers of hunting dogs, distillers and vendors of spiritous liquors (śauṇḍikas), washermen and dyers.¹ It is further stated that the food of a king impairs the vigour of the snātaka, the food of a śūdra his excellence in sacred learning, the food of a goldsmith his longevity and that of a leather-cutter (carmāvakartinaḥ) his fame.² Curiously enough, along with the food of the various sections of the śūdra community, the food of the king is also considered detrimental to the welfare of the snātaka.