THE HINDU SOCIAL ORDER : ITS UNIQUE FEATURES 121
X. 103. “From interpreting the Veda, from officiating at sacrifices or from taking presents, though in modes generally disapproved, no sin is committed by priests in distress; for they are as pure as fire or water.”
The privileges of the superman are not at all counterbalanced by an obligation towards the common man. Indeed the superman has no duty towards the common man.
He is not bound to do charity for the uplift of the Comman man. On the other hand, to receive charity is the monopoly of the Superman. For any other person to receive charity is a sin. To the Common man (Shudra) who is born to serve the Superman man, the Superman is not at all required to be a good employer and is not bound to keep him well-fed, well clothed and well-housed. His obligations in this behalf as laid down by Manu are stated below:
X. 124. “They must allot to him (Shudra) out of their own family property a suitable maintenance after considering his ability, his industry and the number of those whom he is bound to support.”
X. 125. “The remnants of their food must be given to him, as well as their old clothes, the refuse of their grain, and their old household furniture.
The rise of the Common man is antagonistic to the supremacy of the Superman. In order to keep the Superman satisfied, happy and secure the Hindu social order takes special care to keep the Common man in a state of perpetual degradation.
Manu insists on the Shudra doing nothing but service:
X. 122. “But let a Shudra serve Brahmanas.”
X. 121. “If a Shudra unable to subsist by serving Brahmanas seeks a livelihood, he may serve Kshatriyas, or he may also seek to maintain himself by attending on a wealthy Vaishya.”
I. 91. “One occupation only the lord prescribed to the Shudra, to serve meekly even these other three castes.”
And why ? Manu does not hesitate to give the reason. He says :
X. 129. “No superfluous collection of wealth must be made by a Shudra, even though he has power to make it, since a servile man, who has amassed riches, becomes proud, and, by his insolence or neglect, gives pain even to Brahmanas.”
The common man is not permitted to acquire learning. The following are the injunctions of Manu:
I. 88. “To the Brahmanas he (the creator) assigned teaching and studying the Veda.”
I. 89. “The Kshatriya he (the creator) commanded to study the Veda.”