SHUDRAS AND THE COUNTER-REVOLUTION 417
VIII. 20. A Brahmana who is only a Brahmana by decent i.e. one who has neither studied nor performed any other act required by the Vedas may, at the king’s pleasure, interpret the law to him i.e. act as the Judge, but never a Shudra (however learned he may be).
VIII. 21. The kingdom of that monarch who looks on while a Shudra settles the law will sink low like a cow in a morass.
VIII. 272. If a Shudra arrogantly presumes to preach religion to Brahmins the King shall have poured burning oil in his mouth and oars.
In the matter of acquiring learning the knowledge Manu ordains as follows:
III. 156. He who instructs Shudra pupils and he whose teacher is a Shudra shall become disqualified for being invited to a Shudra.
IV. 99. He must never read the Vedas…. in the presence of the Shudras.
Manu’s successors went much beyond him in the cruelty of their punishment of the Shudra for studying the Veda. For instance Katyayana lays down that if a Shudra overheard the Veda or ventured to utter a word of the Veda the King shall cut his tongue in twain and pour hot molten lead in his ears.
As to right to property by the Shudra Manu enjoins as follows:
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 to Brahmans.
VIII. 417. A Brahmanas may seize without hesitation if he be in distress for his subsistence, the goods of his Shudra.
The Shudra can have only one occupation. This is one of the inexhorable Laws of Manu. Says Manu:
I. 91. One occupation only, the Lord prescribed to the Shudra, to serve meekly these other three castes (namely Brahmin, Kshatriya and Vaishyas).
X. 121. If a Shudra, (unable to subsist by serving Brahmans) seeks a livelihood, he may serve Kshatriyas, or he may also seek to maintain himself by attending on a wealthy Vaisya.
X. 122. But let (Shudra) serve Brahmans, either for the sake of heaven, or with a view to both (this life and the next); for he who is called the servant of a Brahmana thereby gains all his ends.
X. 123. The service of Brahmanas alone is declared (to be) an excellent occupation for a Shudra for whatever else besides this he may perform will bear him no fruit.