Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c13.628

c13.628

There is no evidence to show that any vigorous propaganda was made by the brāhmaṇas to popularise the piety of making gifts earlier than the time of the Yājñavalkya Smṛti.⁷ With the law-book of Bṛhaspati the doctrine of salvation through gifts reached its high watermark.¹ The fact that this doctrine was repeatedly emphasised in connection with the śūdras may suggest that they were in a position to make gifts which was in accord with the change in their economic position.