THE SHUDRAS : THE BRAHMANIC .... STATUS OF THE SHUDRAS 43
The disabilities are so deadening that it would be impossible to believe them unless one sees them in cold print. They are, however, so numerous that it is impossible to present them in their fullness. To enable those, who do not know them, to have some idea of these disabilities, I have assembled below in one place illustrative statements by the different Sutrakaras and Smritikaras relating to the disabilities of the Shudras scattered in their Law Books.
II
(i)
(A) The Apastamba Dharma Sutra says :
“There are four castes—Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras.
Amongst these, each preceding (caste) is superior by birth to the one following [1] :
For all these, excepting Shudras and those who have committed bad actions are ordained (1) the initiation (Upanayana or the wearing of the sacred thread), (2) the study of the Veda and (3) the kindling of the sacred fire (i.e., the right to perform sacrifices). [2] "
(B) This is what the Vasishtha Dharma Sutra says:
“There are four castes (Varna) Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras.
Three castes, Brahmanas, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas (are called) twiceborn.
Their first-birth is from the mother; the second from the investiture with the sacred girdle. In that (second birth) the Savitri is the mother, but the teacher is said to be the father.
They call the teacher father, because he gives instruction in the Veda. [3]
The four castes are distinguished by their origin and by particular sacraments.
There is also the following passage of the Veda: ‘ The Brahmana was his mouth, the Kshatriya formed his arms: the Vaishya his thighs; the Shudra was born from his feet. [1]
It has been declared in the following passage of the Veda that a Shudra shall not receive the sacraments. ‘He created the Brahmana with the Gayatri (metre), the Kshatriya with the Trishtubh, the Vaishya with the Jagati, the Shudra without any metre.” [4]
(C) The Manu Smriti propounds the following view on the subject :
Prasna 1, Patala 1, Khanda 1, Sutras 4-5.
Ibid., Sutra 6.
Chapter H, Verses 1-4.
4 Chapter IV, Verse 3