[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) › c14.26 # Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c14.26 Śūdras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c14.26 - **Language:** English ### [c14.26](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c14.26) In the case of oppression the śūdra labourers may have taken refuge⁴ among the free tribal population, or have migrated from one state to another. The oppressed seem to have offered passive resistance; we have hardly any concrete instance of revolt or active resistance. Further, in contrast to the brāhmaṇas and kṣatriyas, the śūdras were not a well-organised, closed community, capable of making any combined efforts against their masters. As time passed, they fragmented into numerous sub-castes of unequal social status, which went on multiplying through the accession of numerous tribes. It is suggested that in the \*Amarakośa\*, craftsmen such as garland-makers, potters, masons, weavers, tailors, painters etc. are noted in an approximately descending order.⁵ The theory of the origin of mixed castes through hypergamy (\*pratiloma\*) was cleverly used to create a hierarchy of degraded śūdra castes, separated by ideas of purity and pollution from one another,¹ with the result that they found it difficult to make a common cause. The division between the pure (\*sat\*) and impure (\*asat\*) śūdras became marked from Gupta times. - [Previous: c14.25](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c14.25) - [Next: c14.27](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c14.27) - [Up: c14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c14) ## Cites (1) - [Nāmaliṅgānuśāsana (Amarakośa)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.art.kosa.paryaya.amarakosa*bo) — Classical Tibetan --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c14.26](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c14.26) · Pramāṇa