44 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
“For the prosperity of the worlds, he (the creator) from his mouth, arms, thighs and feet created the Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. [1]
The Brahmans, Kshatriya (and) Vaishya constitute the three twice-born castes, but the fourth, the Shudra has only one birth.” [2]
(ii)
(A) The Apastamba Dharma Sutra says:
“(A Traivarnika) shall never study (the Veda) in a burial ground nor anywhere near it within the throw of a Samya.
If a village has been built over a burial ground or its surface has been cultivated as a field, the recitation of the Veda in such a place is not prohibited.
But if that place is known to have been a burial ground, he shall not study (there).
A Shudra and an outcaste are (included by the term) burial-ground, (and the rule given, Sutra 6 applies to them).
Some declare, that (one ought to avoid only to study) in the same house (where they dwell).
But if (a student and) a Shudra woman merely look at each other, the recitation of the Veda must be interrupted. [3]
Food touched by a (Brahmana or other high-caste person) who is impure, becomes impure but not unfit for eating.
But what has been brought (be it touched or not) by an impure Shudra must not be eaten.
A Shudra touches him, (then he shall leave off eating).” [4]
(B) The Vishnu Smriti says :
“He must not cause a member of a twice born caste to be carried out by a Shudra (even though he be a kinsman of the deceased). Nor a Shudra by a member of a twice-born caste.
A father and a mother shall be carried out by their sons; (who are equal in caste to their parents).
But Shudras must never carry out a member of a twice-born caste, even though he be their father.” [5]
(C) The Vasishtha Dharma Sutra prescribes :
“Now therefore, we will declare what may be eaten and what may not be eaten.
1 Chapter I, Verse 31.
2 Chapter X, Verse 4
3 Prasna 1, Patala 3, Khanda 9, Sutras 6-11.
4 Prasna 1, Patala 5, Khanda 16, Sutras 21-22.
5 Chapter XIX, Sutras 1-4