Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c12.426

c12.426

The descriptions of the Kali age in the Purāṇas and the violent anti-śūdra measures of Manu point to a prolonged social crisis, which seems to have been caused by the oppression of the rulers. The Purāṇas repeatedly state that oppressed with taxes, famine, drought, etc., the people will perish.⁵ It is further stated that they would suffer from hunger, thirst and diseases.⁶ The Aranyaka Parva states that out of the fear of the burden of taxes peasants would earn their livelihood by thieving on a large scale, by donning the garb of *munis*, and by taking to trade.¹ Referring to the Kali era the Purāṇas add that the people would seize the crops and clothes belonging to others.² The *Viṣṇu Purāṇa* states that suffering intensely on account of oppressions caused by taxes and famine the unhappy peasants would flee to those regions which produce rich crops of wheat and barley.³