Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c12.376

c12.376

In the religious sphere the śūdra continued to be deprived of the right to Vedic sacrifice.⁸ It is said that the śūdra cannot suffer loss of caste; he is not worthy to receive the sacraments and has no right to follow the dharma of the āryans.⁹ A twice-born should not associate his śūdra wife with the performance of rites.¹⁰ If he does this foolishly, he should be regarded despicable as a caṇḍāla.¹ Perhaps this rule refers to the brāhmaṇas. It is also laid down that a brāhmaṇa should not beg from a śūdra anything required for the sacrifice; if he does so, he will be born as a caṇḍāla after death.²