THE SHUDRAS : THE STORY OF RECONCILIATION 189
was that what was done by one individual belonging to the tribe was deemed to be done by the whole tribe. In all ancient societies the unit was the tribe or the community and not the individual, with the result that the guilt of the individual was the guilt of the community and the guilt of the community was the guilt of every individual belonging to it. If this fact is borne in mind, then it would be quite natural to say that the Brahmins did not confine their hatred to the offending kings, but extended it to the whole of the Shudra community and applied the ban against Upanayana to all the Shudras.
II
As to whether there was enough provocation, the matter is hardly open to question. Tempers must have risen high on both sides. There was enough combustible material on both sides for an explosion to take place.
On the side of the Brahmins, it is evident that their pretensions to social superiority and their claim for special privileges had become outrageous in character and unbearable in extent.
The following is a catalogue [1] of the pretensions put fourth by the Brahmins :
(i) The Brahmin must be acknowledged to be the guru to all Varnas by the mere fact of his birth;
(ii) The Brahmana has the sole right of deciding upon the duties of all other classes, what conduct was proper to them and what should be their means of livelihood; and the other classes were to abide by his directions and the king was to rule in accordance with such directions;
(iii) The Brahmana is not subject to the authority of the king. The king was the ruler of all except the Brahmana;
(iv) The Brahmana is exempt from (1) whipping; (2) fetters being put on him; (3) the imposition of fines; (4) exile; (5) censure and (6) abandonment.
(v) A Shrotriya (a Brahmana learned in Vedas) is free from taxes.
(vi) A Brahmana is entitled to claim the whole of the treasure trove if he found it. If the king found it he must give half to the Brahmana.
(vii) The property of a Brahmana dying without an heir shall not go to the king, but shall be distributed among Shrotriyas or Brahmanas.
(viii) The king meeting a Shrotriya or a Brahmana on the road must give way to the Brahmana.
(ix) The Brahmana must be saluted first.
(x) The person of a Brahmana is sacred. No death sentence could be passed against a Brahmana even if he is guilty of murder.
1 This summary is based on the catalogue given in Kane’s Dharma Shastra,
Vol. II (I), pp. 138-153.