Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c9.201

c9.201

During this period we also find traces of contempt for the caṇḍāla. It is stated that those who are of good conduct will attain good rebirth as a brāhmaṇa, a kṣatriya or a vaiśya; but those who are of bad conduct will enter the stinking womb of a dog, swine or caṇḍāla.² It is to be noted that, unlike the case of the caṇḍāla, birth in the śūdra varṇa is not described as impure (*kapūyām*), though it seems to have been looked upon as undesirable. It further appears that the caṇḍālas, who were an aboriginal tribe,³ were coming to be regarded as of reprehensible conduct. But in the early texts of this period the caṇḍāla appears as a victim in the *puruṣamedha* sacrifice,⁴ which gives no indication of his being untouchable. The Paulkasa, however, was associated with loathsomeness.⁵