Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c12.352

c12.352

Manu’s provisions regarding the boycott of the food, company and women of śūdras apply mainly to the brāhmaṇas.¹ We observe a similar social distance between the brāhmaṇa and the vṛṣala in the *Mahābhāṣya* of Patañjali. Thus while the brāhmaṇa has white teeth, the vṛṣala has black;² the brāhmaṇa gets a high seat but the vṛṣala a low seat.³ A person can indulge in illicit and disreputable dealings towards the vṛṣalī and dāsī, but he should behave with due respect towards a brāhmaṇī.⁴