Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c14.33

c14.33

A powerful factor which helped to preserve the essentials of the varṇa system and thus to keep the śūdras down was the indoctrination of the masses in the theory of *karma* and of the bad consequences following the non-performance of the varṇa or *jāti* duties ordained by gods. It is argued that since the masses were widely educated and endowed with critical acumen, they could not believe in the natural superiority of the higher varṇas,³ but there is no basis for such a wild claim. On the contrary, the minds of the labouring masses were so strongly enchained by the brāhmaṇical ideology that there was only a limited scope either for direct coercion against the śūdras or for violent revolts on their part.