Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c13.239

c13.239

There is no sign of such a liberal attitude in the appointment of judges and councillors (sabhyas). Yājñavalkya lays down that the king should administer justice with the assistance of learned brāhmaṇas who can act as judges in the case of the inability of the king to do so.⁷ Kātyāyana adds that, if a brāhmaṇa is wanting either a kṣatriya or a vaiśya should be appointed a judge, but a śūdra should be carefully avoided,¹ a view which is also upheld by Bṛhaspati in regard to the appointment of the sabhyas.² The latter also repeats the warning of Manu that the kingdom, strength and treasury of the ruler who carries on his work with the assistance of the śūdras (vṛṣalas) suffer destruction.³