Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c13.339

c13.339

Nārada upholds the old view that, in case of theft, the brāhmaṇa's guilt is the highest and that of the śūdra the lowest.¹ This was perhaps based on the principle that a brāhmaṇa should acquire and practise the full measure of dharma, a rājanya ¾ dharma, a vaiśya ½ dharma and a śūdra ¼ dharma. The heaviness or lightness of sins for purposes of expiation of each of the four varṇas should be determined upon this principle.² Kātyāyana also seems to think of theft when he provides that a kṣatriya or a brāhmaṇa should be awarded double the punishment which is provided for a śūdra.³ The fact that the vaiśyas are not mentioned in this connection shows that they were becoming merged with the śūdras. But all this would suggest that śūdras were considered habitual thieves, an inference which is also corroborated by the Amarakosa, in which words for thieves and dasyus are listed in the śūdra-varga.⁴