[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) › c12.352 # Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c12.352 Śūdras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c12.352 - **Language:** English ### [c12.352](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.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 - [Previous: c12.351](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c12.351) - [Next: c12.353](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c12.353) - [Up: c12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c12) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c12.352](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c12.352) · Pramāṇa