[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958) › c13.538 # Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c13.538 Śūdras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c13.538 - **Language:** English ### [c13.538](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.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 - [Previous: c13.537](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c13.537) - [Next: c13.539](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c13.539) - [Up: c13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c13) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c13.538](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c13.538) · Pramāṇa