Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c13.74

c13.74

The rates of payment prescribed by *Bṛhaspati* suggest that towards the end of the Gupta period wages of agricultural labourers were doubled. Further, the fact that they worked without the provision of food and clothes indicates the rise of a new stratum of labourers, who possessed resources to meet their requirements and were consequently less dependent on their employers. Thus it is clear that during this period there was a definite increase in the wages of herdsmen and agricultural labourers, which meant consequent improvement in the economic position of a considerable number of śūdras.