Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c13.384

c13.384

The *Nāṭyaśāstra* also prescribes a different kind of gait and movement for the portrayal of menial servants on the stage. According to this text one of their sides or the head or a hand or a foot should be lowered, and their eyes should move to different objects.³ Such behaviour suggests lack of confidence and shows that members of the lower orders were not encouraged to hold their heads high in the company of their masters.