[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) › c12.459 # Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c12.459 Śūdras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c12.459 - **Language:** English ### [c12.459](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c12.459) Similarly we notice some improvement in the śūdra’s legal and political status. Manu’s punishment of a brāhmaṇa abusing a śūdra is significant,¹ for in the Dharmasūtras the brāhmaṇa goes scot-free. Again, the fact that the brāhmaṇa ruler Gautamīputra Śātakarṇi felt it necessary to court the support of the avaras² shows the importance that was being accorded to them in the second century A.D. - [Previous: c12.458](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c12.458) - [Next: c12.460](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c12.460) - [Up: c12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c12) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c12.459](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c12.459) · Pramāṇa