Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c13.503

c13.503

For the first time the Śānti Parvan declares that all the four varṇas ought to hear the Veda,⁵ and that a person ought to acquire knowledge even from a śūdra.⁶ Such injunctions are in sharp contrast to those of Manu, which provide very severe punishments in such cases. The precepts of the Śānti Parvan may have been thwarted by the deep-rooted prejudice against allowing Vedic education to the śūdras,⁷ but the recitation of the epics and Purāṇas was certainly open to the śūdras. The Bhāgavata Purāṇa states that instead of the Veda the Mahābhārata is provided for women and śūdras.⁸ It is not clear whether the Mahābhārata was to be read or only to be heard by the śūdras.