[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) › c8.320 # Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c8.320 Śūdras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c8.320 - **Language:** English ### [c8.320](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c8.320) A very similar derivation of the term is given by the author of the \*Uṇādi-sūtras\* in the grammar of Pāṇini, where the term śūdra is resolved into two components, i.e. root \*śuc\* or \*śuk\*+\*ra\*.⁵ It is difficult to account for the suffix \*ra\*, and in this case also the derivation seems to be fanciful and far-fetched.⁶ - [Previous: c8.319](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c8.319) - [Next: c8.321](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c8.321) - [Up: c8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c8) ## Linked texts (1) - [Aṣṭādhyāyī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.vedanga.vyakarana.astadhyayi) — Pāṇini, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c8.320](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1958.c8.320) · Pramāṇa