Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c13.381
Śūdras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c13.381
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c13.381
The rule that different terms should be used in enquiring about the health of different varṇas does not seem to have been emphasised during this period. But the *Nāṭyaśāstra* provides that in the drama a mode of address indicating command should be used in conversing with servants of both sexes, artisans and mechanics.¹ This shows that low caste people were addressed contemptuously. In the *Mṛcchakaṭika* abusive expressions such as "sons of slave women", "sons of concubines" and "bastards" are used in addressing low class people.²