THE SHUDRAS : THE BRAHMANIC .... STATUS OF THE SHUDRAS 51
Also blind, dumb, deaf and diseased persons (as long as their infirmities last) are exempt from taxes. [1]
To serve the other three castes is ordained for the Shudra.
The higher the caste which he serves the greater is the merit.” [2]
(B) The Manu Smriti has the following:
“Now, for the sake of preserving all this creation, the most glorious (being) ordained separate duties for those who sprang from (his) mouth, arm, thigh and feet.
For Brahmins he ordered teaching, study, sacrifices and sacrificing (as priests) for others, also giving and receiving gifts.
Defence of the people, giving (alms), sacrifice, also study, and absence of attachment to objects of sense, in short for a Kshatriya.
Tending of cattle, giving (alms), sacrifice, study, trade, usury, and also agriculture for a Vaishya.
One duty the Lord assigned to a Shudra—service to those (beforementioned) classes without grudging.” [3]
(ix)
(A) The Apastamba Dharma Sutra says :
“A man of one of the first three castes (who commits adultery) with a woman of the Shudra caste shall be banished.
A Shudra (who commits adultery) with a woman of one of the first three castes shall suffer capital punishment.” [4]
(B) The Gautama Dharma Sutra says :
If (the Shudra) has criminal intercourse with an Aryan woman, his organ shall be cut off and all his property be confiscated.
If (the woman had) a protector (i.e., she was under the guaradian-ship of some person) he (the Shudra) shall be executed after having undergone the punishments prescribed above. [5]
(C) The Manu Smriti says :
If a man (of the Shudra caste) makes love to a girl of the highest caste he deserves corporal punishment. [6]
A Shudra cohabiting with a woman of twice-born castes, whether she be guarded or not guarded, is (to be) deprived of his member and of all his property if she be not guarded and of everything if she is guarded. [7]
Prasna II, Patala 10, Khanda 26, Sutras 14-16. 5 Chapter XII, Sutras 2-3.
Prasna I, Patala I, Khanda I, Sutras 7-8. 6 Chapter VIII, Verse 366.
Chapter I, Verses 87-91. 7 Chapter VIII, Verse 374.
Prasna II, Patala 10, Khanda 27, Sutras 8-9.