[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) › c8.163 # Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c8.163 Śūdras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c8.163 - **Language:** English ### [c8.163](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c8.163) Dasyus were raised to Āryan status and then deprived of it, presumably on account of their anti-Āryan activities? We may also consider the suggestion that \*arya\* or its extension (\*vṛddhi\*) \*ārya\* means a man of substance;¹ on this basis some Dasyus seem to have been dispossessed of their property. All this leads us to suppose that some of the surviving priests and chiefs from the enemy peoples were given corresponding positions (possibly of inferior nature) in the new Āryan society. - [Previous: c8.162](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c8.162) - [Next: c8.164](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c8.164) - [Up: c8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c8) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c8.163](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c8.163) · Pramāṇa