Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c13.68

c13.68

The *Śānti Parvan* and the *Bṛhaspati Smṛti* lay down higher rates of wages for agricultural labourers than the other texts of around this period. Thus, according to the former, if a cultivator is supplied with seeds and other accessories, he may take a seventh part of the yield.¹ *Bṛhaspati* is more liberal. According to him the workers engaged in cultivation (*sira-vāhakas*) should be given ¼ of the produce if they are provided with food and clothing.² If they work without being given food and clothing by their employer, they should be given ⅓ of the produce.³ Obviously these provisions apply to the agricultural labourers and not to the sharecroppers who supplied their own seeds, oxen and implements. There is no justification for the view that the *sira* land was identical with the *sitā* land of Kauṭilya.⁴ While the *sitā* was crown land, the *sira* was in the possession of individuals, who employed labourers for its cultivation.⁵