Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c13.538

c13.538

As an important corollary to the śūdra's right to sacrifice follows his right of performing penances. Yājñavalkya lays down the *cāndrāyaṇa* penance for the śūdras, who are obviously covered by the use of the term *avakṛṣṭa* by him.³ This provision is considered to be an interpolation,⁴ but it is in keeping with the liberal attitude of Yājñavalkya and a similar provision in the *Bṛhaspati Smṛti*, which prescribes the *prājāpatya* penance for the śūdra in the case of his snapping the thread of a brāhmaṇa.⁵