[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) › c8.238 # Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c8.238 Śūdras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c8.238 - **Language:** English ### [c8.238](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c8.238) Obviously the crafts mentioned above were practised by the members of the Āryan community (\*viś\*), and no social stigma was attached to them. A later passage from the \*Ṛg Veda\* describes the carpenter as one who usually bends over his work till his back aches.¹ This may convey some idea of the difficult nature of his work, but implies no contempt for it. That the carpenters were a low caste, or formed a separate class of the people is certainly not true of Vedic times.² But the smith (\*karmāra\*), the carpenter (\*takṣan\*), the tanner (\*carmamna\*),³ the weaver and others, whose occupations were quite dignified in the \*Ṛg Veda\* and apparently practised by respected members of the \*viś\*, came to be reckoned as śūdra in the Pāli texts.⁴ It is likely that non-Āryans also pursued these crafts independently,⁵ but there is no doubt that many descendants of Āryan artisans, who stuck to their old professions, were relegated to the position of the śūdras. - [Previous: c8.237](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c8.237) - [Next: c8.239](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c8.239) - [Up: c8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c8) ## Linked texts (1) - [Ṛgvedasaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.samhita.rg.1.105.18) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c8.238](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c8.238) · Pramāṇa